First Bus has confirmed receipients of orders for 74 further battery-electric single-deck buses for its remaining fleets in Scotland.
The BYD ADL partnership will build 50 Enviro200EV examples for First Glasgow’s Scotstoun depot. Pelican Bus and Coach will supply 24 Yutong E12 models to First Aberdeen. The latter will be the first vehicles from Yutong for First in Scotland.
First has committed £35m to the 74 buses and their associated infrastructure, with the BYD ADL batch accounting for £19.7m and the Yutong deliveries £8.4m. In addition, £4.8m will be invested in Scotstoun and £2.1m in Aberdeen to install rapid charging points. That work is expected to take 12 months to complete, with the first buses to arrive in 2023.
A further £18.6m from the first round of the Scottish Zero Emission Bus challenge fund is going towards the vehicles and their infrastructure.
Completion of the delivery will see 50% of the First Aberdeen fleet become zero-emission. The Yutongs will operate there alongside two batches of Wrightbus StreetDeck Hydroliner hydrogen fuel cell-electric double-deckers. The 50 BYD ADL buses that form part of the latest order will take First’s operation in Glasgow to 40% battery-electric in conjunction with extensive work at its Caledonia depot.
First Bus Scotland Managing Director Duncan Cameron says the operator is “proud” of the progress it has already made on decarbonisation. The latest order represents a further significant step on the group’s quest to have an entirely zero-emission fleet by 2035. It follows hot on the heels of a deal struck with Wrightbus for 193 battery-electric buses for First Bus fleets in England.
Mr Cameron adds that modal shift will allow zero-emission buses to have a greater impact on emissions and air quality. “These state-of-the-art electric vehicles will provide a more pleasant journey for passengers, and we hope that they will encourage more people living in these cities to leave their cars behind in favour of bus travel.”
