A multi-million pound investment in greener travel has welcomed the roll out of fully electric buses across South, East and North Ayrshire.
Stagecoach West Scotland unveiled their fleet of 27 buses at an official launch event yesterday at the historic Burns Cottage in Alloway.
The major investment of around £15.7 million sees 25 Volvo BZL single-deck buses, the first to operate in the UK, added to the West Scotland electric fleet.
In addition, two Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) BYD single-deck buses will be introduced, taking the total ADL fleet to 17.
Local communities will benefit from 48 electric buses being used on local routes around Ayrshire as the operator makes significant progress toward reducing its emissions and air pollution.
The launch is part of Stagecoach’s drive to target a net zero UK bus fleet by 2035.
The bus operator has also invested in installing 21 new charging stations during recent upgrades to their Kilmarnock and Ayr depots.
Residents in Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine can experience the latest electric bus technology from next month, when the buses hit the roads.
The buses- which will reduce Stagecoach’s net carbon impact by 1,433 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) per year compared to like-for-like diesels- will operate from morning to night on a single daily charge with no engine noise or emissions.
And the state-of-the-art fleet continues to offer handy facilities, including USB charging points, app, and contactless onboard payment.
Fiona Doherty, Stagecoach West Scotland Managing Director, said: “This is an exciting day for Stagecoach as we launch our new fleet of electric buses, which will serve communities in Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine with zero-emission public transport.
“This multi-million pound investment is part of our strategy to decarbonise our fleet and bring state-of-the-art bus travel to our customers in the urban areas we serve.
“Bus travel is one of the greenest forms of transport available and we encourage everyone to leave their cars at home and try our new electric buses.”
The investment in new electric buses for Ayrshire is supported by the Scottish Government’s Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB).
Minister for Transport Jenny Gilruth praised the move, adding that the bus firm continues to show a commitment to help meet Scotland’s climate change targets.
She said: “I’m pleased that the Scottish Government has been able to support the ambitions of Stagecoach West Scotland, as part of our Mission Zero for Transport, by providing £8 million through our Scottish Zero Emission Bus Scheme.
“This is in addition to a further 25 electric buses introduced by Stagecoach for Inverness, supported with £5.8 million in funding support from government.
“Choosing bus is already a fantastic choice for our environment. Zero emission buses offer even more benefits.
“Communities across Ayrshire will benefit from improved air quality and reduced noise pollution, helping more people to choose bus.”
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