Chris Ames 24 March 2021

Coventry gets go-ahead for all-electric buses

Coventry gets go-ahead for all-electric buses image

Coventry is set to become the UK’s first All Electric Bus City after the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) backed the project.

The Department for Transport (DfT) will now give the combined authority £50m to deliver the scheme, under which every bus in Coventry will be electric powered by 2025.

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), which is part of the WMCA, will lead the project in partnership with Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council and local bus operators.

TfWM said it will work with bus operators to replace buses and install charging infrastructure on the streets of Coventry. This includes pantograph, or overhead, charging points which will be available to all bus operators.

The local authorities and bus operators will pay 25% of the cost of charging infrastructure and of the added cost of purchasing electric vehicles. However, the new buses are expected to have lower running costs.

West Midlands mayor Andy Street said: ‘This is a great time for bus users in Coventry, with our newly refurbished Pool Meadow bus station, the trial of West Midlands On Demand buses serving the University of Warwick campus, as well our wider investment in fare-capping and better value fares, bus priority measures, real-time travel information and on board facilities like wi-fi and USB charging.

‘It is a bus revolution here in the West Midlands, and Coventry is right at the heart of it.’

Transport minister Baroness Vere said the replacement of Coventry’s entire fleet of buses with new, all-electric vehicles would ‘have a profoundly positive effect on air quality and emissions in the area and reduce noise pollution’.

Baroness Vere said the Government is committed to decarbonising the transport network across the UK; however, publication of its Transport Decarbonisation Plan remains delayed.

TfWM said it is already on target to for existing diesel buses to be Euro-VI compliant low emission vehicles.

This article first appeared on Transport Network

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Family Support Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 6 £27,269 - £30,060 (Pay Award Pending)
Do you want to work in an ambitious Local Authority with strong leadership and partnership commitment to Children’s Services? Durham County Council a Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

SENDIASS Support Officer

Durham County Council
Grade 8 £31,586 - £35,235 (Pay Award Pending)
An exciting and rewarding opportunity has arisen within the busy and fast paced SEND Information, Advice, Support Service (SENDIASS). The service has Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Residential Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 7 £29,093 - £32,654 (Pay Award Pending)
Salary
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Team Leader

Durham County Council
Grade 8 £31,586 - £35,235 (Pay Award Pending)
Salary
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Class Teacher

Durham County Council
£31,650- £33,483
Class Teacher MPS 1 -2   £31,650- £33,483 Temporary – required from Monday 1st September 2025 (subject to DBS) until 31st August 2026 25 hours per wee Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner