Essex gains first battery-electric buses

Fully electric buses are set to hit the roads in Essex for the first time. The English county has launched 55 electric buses on public transport routes around Basildon, with roll-out set to continue over the next two months.

First Bus has not specified which electric buses will make up the new fleet; elsewhere in the UK, the public transport company has purchased buses from Alexander Dennis, Wrightbus, Yutong, or it has retrofitted old diesel models, but it’s not clear how they have procured the vehicles this time around.

However, they have stated that the full fleet of 55 buses will be in service by the end of the year. The project is being delivered in partnership with the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA 2) scheme; First Bus has invested £25.8 million as part of a larger £30.6 million overall investment, which covers vehicles, infrastructure, and upgrades to the existing Basildon bus depot.

First Bus has stated that the first four electric buses are now operational on routes 25, 200, and 300, as well as town services via the B route in Basildon. That means there’s a total of 51 more electric buses to be deployed, which First Bus says will eventually operate on “most local routes”. All this brings First Bus a few steps closer to its goal of operating a fully zero-emission bus fleet by 2035.

Piers Marlow, Managing Director of First Bus East England, said: “It’s fantastic to see the first of our electric buses on the streets of Basildon. Over the coming months, more vehicles will join the fleet until all 55 are in service, delivering cleaner air, quieter journeys and a more sustainable way to travel.”

firstbus.co.uk