Stagecoach Midlands has purchased its first zero-emission bus in the form of a Yutong E10 battery-electric model. It will be used on a five-year staff transport contract with National Grid in Warwickshire.
The dual-door E10 has been supplied by Pelican Bus and Coach. It will provide a dedicated service between Leamington Spa town centre and railway station and the National Grid site at Warwick Technology Park. The bus is expected to cover 50,000km per year and it is equipped with air-conditioning and USB charging points.
Stagecoach Midlands Managing Director Mark Whitelocks says: “We are delighted to be working with National Grid to provide the first fully electric bus for Warwickshire and to continue helping National Grid staff and our region to travel more sustainably.
“We are proud of how we have invested in new, cleaner buses with ever improving emission standards in recent years. This is our first step towards an even greater movement to cleaner energy.”
Mr Whitelocks add that Stagecoach Midlands is committed to developing its work on zero-emission further in the coming years through its involvement in the government-backed electrification of all buses in Coventry, which “will have wider benefits across Warwickshire.”
Adds National Grid UK Fleet Manager Lorna McAteer: “National Grid has an important role in enabling the rollout of future clean transport, so it is important that we keep leading the way with our own transport and fleet. It is great to have Warwickshire’s first electric bus at National Grid, so we can encourage and support colleagues to reduce their impact on the environment.”
