The UK’s first all-electric intercity coach will run between Dundee and Edinburgh from October, after sustainable transport start-up Ember secured a £490,000 loan.
As part of the Scottish government’s coronavirus business interruption loan scheme, the travel company was able to secure funding from Triodos Bank to purchase two electric coaches.
The intercity service can make the 125-mile roundtrip between Dundee and Edinburgh on a single charge and is thought to be the first of its kind.
Dundee City Council has supported the project with assistance in providing a new fast charging point in the city centre, allowing the coaches to be charged before they make the return journey. This is part of the city’s wider goal to decarbonise transport.
Cllr Mark Flynn, convener of Dundee City Council’s city development committee, said: “I am delighted that Dundee should again be chosen by industry pioneers as the place to pilot another first-in-class development in electric vehicle use.
“The new charging infrastructure recently installed in the city allows their vision of a large passenger-carrying vehicle travelling more than 100 miles on a single charge to become a reality, and I can’t wait to see the service up and running later in the year.”
Passengers will be able to book online for the 90-minute one-way journey, which Ember said will fill an underserved route allowing both residents and tourists to experience eco- and user-friendly intercity travel to and from the Scottish capital.
An app providing real-time travel updates will also be made available.
