Stagecoach has launched Perth’s first fully electric buses, with nine new single-deckers buses to start serving routes across the Scottish city from January.
The electric fleet of nine ADL E200 single-deck vehicles will operate on busy Perth city service routes 1 and 2, connecting Letham and Tulloch with Perth city centre, including retail and leisure developments, Perth Royal Infirmary, educational establishments and McDiarmid Park.
The vehicles were built in Falkirk by global bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis Limited in partnership with BYD, the company’s partner for electric buses in the UK and Ireland. Low carbon energy company SSE is also partnering with Stagecoach to deliver the new electrical infrastructure at the Perth depot.
In addition to being electric, the vehicles have USB charging points at each seat, interior LED lights and contactless payment facilities to enhance and simply the passenger experience.
Martin Griffiths, chief executive of Stagecoach, said: “We are all really excited to be introducing our first fully-electric vehicles in East Scotland thanks to the Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme and the funding made available to support the delivery of the new buses.”
Stagecoach is introducing a total of 52 new fully electric buses in key transport networks including 46 in Aberdeen, Kilmarnock and Perth as part of the Scottish government’s Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme (SULEBS), which helps bus companies invest in EVs and associated infrastructure to support a green recovery out of the coronavirus pandemic, improve air quality and advance Scotland’s ambitions for a net-zero economy.
The 46 new fully electric buses, representing an investment of £21.4m across Scotland (£4.4m in Perth), were part of a drive to improve air quality and support the Scottish government’s environmental targets through SULEBS.
What’s more, during the summer, the bus company also launched six new electric buses serving rural communities across the west of Scotland in partnership with SP Energy Networks, while Stagecoach has also made one of the biggest single investments in EVs in Europe with its double-decker fleet in Manchester.
