A new fleet of fully electric buses could be on their way to Milton Keynes after the council’s proposals made the final shortlist in the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Zero Emission Bus Regional Access (ZEBRA) scheme.
The scheme could see more than £40m invested in Milton Keynes’ public transport network, including 60 brand new zero-emission buses and an upgraded overnight charging bus depot.
The DfT announced its ZEBRA scheme earlier this year and invited local authorities to submit their localised electric bus proposals for a share of £120m government investment.
Milton Keynes council’s shortlisted proposals set out the city’s green and sustainable ambitions, and the council must now develop a full business case to submit by the end of August.
If successful, a new fully electric fleet of buses could be rolled out in Milton Keynes from 2022. The scheme would be backed by private investment as well as government’s grant funding. The council said this investment in the city would help it achieve its 2030 carbon neutral target.
Jennifer Wilson-Marklew, cabinet member for climate action and sustainability, said: “I’m thrilled with this fantastic news. We’ve demonstrated that Milton Keynes is fully committed to becoming even cleaner and greener, and that we have the partnerships in place to move quickly to a zero-carbon future with electric buses.
“Along with growth in electric vehicles, our electric demand responsive bus service and all the work we’re doing with sustainable energy, we’re well on the way to a carbon neutral future.”
