UK-based fleet electrification company Zenobē has financed more than 280 electric buses for transport operator Go-Ahead Group under what the companies described as the bus industry’s first committed finance framework agreement (CFFA).
The arrangement provides Go-Ahead with a pre-agreed scalable credit line that can be drawn down when needed, supporting the company’s plan to fully electrify its bus fleet by 2035.
According to the companies, the framework replaces repeated lease negotiations for individual vehicle orders with a single pre-arranged financing structure, allowing faster access to funding under fixed commercial terms.
The more than 280 electric buses financed so far have been sourced from four separate original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), with Zenobē and Go-Ahead collaborating on fleet electrification projects since 2021.
Steven Meersman said the agreement could help simplify financing for zero-emission public transport projects.
“This agreement marks a significant step forward in how public transport operators can finance the transition to zero-emission fleets,” Meersman said.
“We’ve worked closely with Go-Ahead for many years, and this first-of-its-kind framework gives them the flexibility, speed and cost certainty they need as electrification accelerates,” he added.
Gonzalo Velasco said access to scalable financing was important for the company’s transition strategy.
“Electrifying our bus fleet at pace is central to our strategy, but it requires financing solutions that are flexible, scalable and quick to execute,” Velasco said.
“This committed finance framework with Zenobē gives us certainty that funding is available when we need it, while removing unnecessary complexity and delay.”
The agreement comes as public transport operators across Europe accelerate investment in battery-electric buses amid tightening emissions targets and broader decarbonisation efforts in urban transport systems.