National Express West Midlands, a British bus operator, is investing £150 million ($204 million) in 300 electric buses to be deployed in the West Midlands by the end of 2024. This will make over a third of the operator’s fleet emission-free.
The source of the electric buses has not been disclosed, but they will be manufactured in the UK. The investment will also include upgrades to the charging infrastructure and maintenance capacities of the depot network.
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National Express aims to have a fully emission-free bus fleet by 2030. The Birmingham-based company operates as a provider of intercity and regional bus transport throughout the UK. The decision to switch to electric buses was influenced by government subsidies for start-up financing. The electricity for the vehicles will come from 100% renewable energy sources.
“This huge green investment shows we are now at the tipping point of electric buses,” emphasises Tom Stables, CEO National Express UK & Germany. “The initial Government support has got the industry going and we are proud to be a major contributor to the green economy in the West Midlands.”
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The West Midlands region, with a population of around three million, is making investments that should lead to 800 zero-emission buses on the roads by 2026. The Coventry Electric Bus City project is one such initiative aimed at replacing all diesel buses in Coventry with zero-emission buses by 2025.
Transport Minister Richard Holden, said: “Reliable, clean and efficient bus services at a good price are what everyone wants to see from our bus network and I am determined to do everything possible to decarbonise our transport network and support skilled jobs in next generation bus manufacturing across the UK.
