Public transport operator Stagecoach West and Gloucestershire County Council will invest about £20 million (€23 million) to procure 42 battery-electric buses for deployment across Cheltenham, Gloucester and Tewkesbury, with additional support from the British government, local authorities said.
Stagecoach West will contribute the bulk of the funding at around £17 million, while the county council and the UK government will jointly cover the remaining cost. The first electric buses are expected to enter service in 2026, although the specific bus models have not yet been disclosed.
See also: Stagecoach Launches Electric Bus Fleet on Edinburgh Airport Route
The new vehicles will be deployed on some of the region’s busiest routes, including routes 1, 2, 2A and 71 in Gloucester, as well as 94, 95, 94X, 41, 42, 43 and T in Cheltenham. The council said the rollout would also mean that “all Stagecoach buses to and from Tewkesbury will be fully electric.”
With the addition of the 42 new vehicles, around 20% of Gloucestershire’s bus fleet will be electrified, officials said. “These new electric buses will play a vital role in cutting carbon emissions, improving local air quality, and encouraging more people to choose public transport,” said Lisa Spivey, Chair of Gloucestershire County Council. “It’s a key step in our ambition to create a greener Gloucestershire and reach net-zero by 2045.”
See also: Stagecoach to Launch First All-Electric Bus Fleet and Depot in Stockton-on-Tees
As part of the project, the county’s main bus depot is being upgraded with charging and electric vehicle maintenance infrastructure, alongside the installation of solar power generation. The wider electrification programme is being supported through the UK government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme.
