Bristol City Council has unveiled its first electrified bus depot as part of a £44m transport project.
The south Bristol bus depot was upgraded through a £37.4m investment from First Bus and £6.6m funding from the government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) project via the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.
The ZEBRA funding will also enable 74 new electric buses to take to the streets of Bristol that will collectively be able to transport 230,000 passengers per week on seven services across the city.
Each bus is reportedly capable of saving approximately 75 tonnes of CO2 each year – the equivalent to taking 54 cars off the road.
The announcement was also accompanied by the unveiling of five gantries, installed by N G Bailey, at a site just off the A4174 in south Bristol, which will power the area’s 74 new electric buses.
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The new zero-emission buses boast modern interiors with USB charging points for each seat, a camera monitoring system instead of wing mirrors for added safety and a smoother, quieter and more reliable ride for customers.
Mayor of the West of England Helen Godwin said: “I promised to work with government to get our region moving.
“The first of over 250 brand-new, comfy, electric buses for our region are a great start in a new chapter for the West of England, as we work with local councils and bus operators to deliver the best for the West.
“£29m secured from government and £120m from First Bus has already electrified the Hengrove depot with new charging infrastructure, as well as the one in Weston-super-Mare.
“These new zero-emission buses are a total game-changer for bus passengers across the West Country, with phone chargers at every seat.
“I was glad to welcome the Minister to our region to see them today, and discuss with him how we can further improve bus services in our region including through the new powers promised by the Bus Services Bill.”
Achievements in sustainable public transport will be recognised and celebrated at the fourth annual CiTTi Awards on 25 November 2025 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector!
