Stagecoach launches 22 fully electric buses in Aberdeen

Stagecoach launches 22 fully electric buses in Aberdeen

By
Zapmap
Published

A fleet of 22 electric buses has this week launched in Aberdeen, following over £11 million of investment, supported by £4 million from the Scottish Government Ultra Low Emissions Scheme.

Operated by Stagecoach, the buses will run on routes that connect the city centre with Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, TECA and Aberdeen International Airport, as well as running through residential areas.

“We are all really excited to welcome the electric buses to our Aberdeen fleet. Training for our team of drivers and engineers is well underway and we are planning for the new buses to be out in service for our customers later this month,” said Peter Knight, Managing Director at Stagecoach Bluebird.

The fleet of electric buses will be based at the Tullos depot and are each specified with ELeather seats and onboard stop announcements.

“Sustainable transport is critical to the future of our planet: decarbonising local journeys, reducing road congestion, improving air quality and tackling climate change. Travelling by bus, when we can, is one of the easiest ways to address climate change through carbon reduction of our own journeys,” Knight continued.

“Major investment in new zero-emission buses also needs to be matched by better road infrastructure and more bus priority measures to help encourage people to make the switch from car to sustainable public transport.”

Service 727, connecting the city centre to P&J Live and Aberdeen Airport, will welcome the electric fleet. The service operates up to every 15 minutes Monday to Friday and up to every 20 minutes at the weekends.

The new electric buses will also be used on service 59, connecting Balnagask with the city centre, ARI and Northfield. Service 59 was one of the first routes in Scotland to operate using electric-hybrid buses. Now the hybrid fleet, originally launched in 2012, will soon be replaced by the new zero-emissions buses with double the capacity on the route.

“Bus travel is one of the most environmentally friendly ways to travel and we hope that by offering zero emission vehicles and next level of comfort that it attracts people who previously weren’t bus users to switch from the car to bus,” Knight concluded.