First Bus has been awarded over £3m as part of Transport Scotland’s Scottish Bus Emission Abatement Retrofit scheme following the announcement of the latest round of scheme funding.
The Scottish government grant towards the overall cost means that 165 further buses will have their exhaust systems changed to meet the current Euro VI standard – the cleanest diesel engines currently available – significantly improving emissions of nitrogen oxide and fine particulate matter across First’s Glasgow network.
Currently, more than 40% of First Glasgow’s vehicles meet the Euro VI standard or better. However, the retrofit programme will enhance the low-emission zone (LEZ) compliance plan, with over 60% of the vehicles reaching Euro VI standard once the 165-vehicle project is completed.
First Bus recently announced its commitment to operating a zero-emission bus fleet by 2035 as well as pledging not to purchase any new diesel buses after December 2022.
Andrew Jarvis, managing director for First Bus in Scotland, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this funding. This is another step on our journey to operating a fully zero-emission fleet by 2035 and we are already leading the way with the first commercially operated electric buses in Glasgow as well as the soon-to-launch world’s first double-decker hydrogen buses in Aberdeen.
“We have been key partners with local authorities on the introduction of fair low-emission zones across Scotland. We have led the way with bus operators in Glasgow as a key partner with Glasgow City Council for the country’s first ever LEZ rollout.”
