National Express West Midlands is investing the cash in 300 zero-emission buses which are expected to be delivered and deployed across the region.by the end of December 2024.
The announcement came as Transport Minister Richard Holden visited Coventry to view progress on the region's plans for a clean and green bus fleet.
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| From left, National Express UK CEO Tom Stables, Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, Transport Minister Richard Holden and David Bradford, managing director, National Express West Midlands |
Thanks to the original government investment that kick-started the transition to Zero Emission Buses (ZEB), the Birmingham-based bus operator is now in a position to acquire these buses.
It will mean that over a third of the fleet will be zero emissions – which is the highest proportion of any city region in the country.
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) chairman, said: “People will now be able to benefit from these wonderful buses here in the Midlands – offering them a quieter, smoother and more comfortable journey.
“As we seek to tackle the climate emergency and maintain our net zero commitment, these British made buses are exactly what we need – saving energy, improving air quality and cutting fuel costs for operators. I cannot wait to see even more electric buses arriving in our region in the months and years ahead.”
Additional investment will be made in infrastructure for charging and maintenance of the fleet across National Express West Midlands’ network of depots.
The electricity to power the electric vehicles will be 100 per cent renewable and zero carbon.
Transport for West Midlands, which is part of the WMCA, and bus operators are making a series of investments which will see some 800 electric and zero-emission buses on the region’s streets by 2026.
Mr Holden said: “Reliable, clean and efficient bus services at a good price are what everyone wants to see from our bus network and I am determined to do everything possible to decarbonise our transport network and support skilled jobs in next generation bus manufacturing across the UK.
“We’ve already invested hundreds of millions of pounds to kick-start the roll-out of zero emission buses nationwide, and it’s great to see National Express introduce hundreds of electric buses here – helping UK manufacturing and driving down emissions and improving bus services for people across the West Midlands.”
“As we seek to tackle the climate emergency and maintain our net zero commitment, these British made buses are exactly what we need – saving energy, improving air quality and cutting fuel costs for operators. I cannot wait to see even more electric buses arriving in our region in the months and years ahead.”
Additional investment will be made in infrastructure for charging and maintenance of the fleet across National Express West Midlands’ network of depots.
Transport for West Midlands, which is part of the WMCA, and bus operators are making a series of investments which will see some 800 electric and zero-emission buses on the region’s streets by 2026.
Mr Holden said: “Reliable, clean and efficient bus services at a good price are what everyone wants to see from our bus network and I am determined to do everything possible to decarbonise our transport network and support skilled jobs in next generation bus manufacturing across the UK.
“We’ve already invested hundreds of millions of pounds to kick-start the roll-out of zero emission buses nationwide, and it’s great to see National Express introduce hundreds of electric buses here – helping UK manufacturing and driving down emissions and improving bus services for people across the West Midlands.”
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Tom Stables, CEO of National Express UK and Germany, said: “This huge green investment shows we are now at the tipping point of electric buses. The initial government support has got the industry going and we are proud to be a major contributor to the green economy in the West Midlands."
