UK government launches £50mn fund for first all-electric bus town

The UK government has launched a new funding initiative under which local authorities can apply for up to £50mn to help pay for a brand-new fleet of electric buses, reducing emissions, and improving air quality.

The Department for Transport claims that a town with 200 electric buses could save around 7,400 tonnes of CO₂ each year, the equivalent of taking 3,700 diesel cars off the road.

The £50mn is part of a £170mn fund aimed at encouraging more people to take the bus, improve services and make bus journeys greener, easier and more reliable. This commitment marks the next step in delivering the government’s £220mn package to overhaul bus services across England and level up transport infrastructure.

UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: ‘Buses carry more people than any other form of public transport in the UK, and with 200 electric buses able to offset 3,700 diesel cars, it is clear they have a crucial role to play in bringing down emissions. But Britain’s first all-electric bus town is just the start. Helping deliver on our manifesto promise, this £170mn package will help us to create communities that are cleaner, easier to get around and more environmentally friendly, speeding up journeys and making them more reliable. By focusing on efficient and affordable transport, we will make greener journeys the natural choice.’