Public transport operator Stagecoach has received 64 new all-electric buses that will be deployed in Coventry, marking a significant step towards the city’s goal of having the UK’s first fully electric bus fleet by 2025. The fleet includes 31 double-decker buses from Alexander Dennis and 33 single-deckers from Yutong. These buses will join the 130 Enviro400EV models from Alexander Dennis already in service in the city, expanding Coventry’s growing electric bus network.
The new buses will begin service in the spring once the necessary charging infrastructure is installed at depots. Stagecoach has invested over £33 million in these 64 buses and the required infrastructure, with additional funding provided through Coventry’s Electric programme, a £140 million project aimed at achieving zero-emission bus services throughout the city and surrounding areas. The project is part of a larger effort to make 80% of buses in Coventry electric, with approximately 200 units already operating with electric drives.
Mark Whitelocks, Stagecoach Midlands Managing Director, expressed confidence in the region’s future, stating, “This investment demonstrates Stagecoach’s confidence in the region and is evidence of us delivering our ambitions to transform bus services for the communities we serve.” Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, highlighted the environmental and comfort benefits, noting that the new buses will improve air quality and make public transport more attractive for Coventry residents.
The electric fleet’s funding is a collaboration between Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), Warwickshire County Council, and the Department of Transport, with TfWM contributing £50 million and Warwickshire adding £20 million. The remaining £70 million was covered by bus operators as part of their commitment to the transition to zero-emission transport.