English transit operators get £30M funding to buy clean fuel buses

Bus passengers will benefit from cleaner, greener journeys thanks to £30 million of government

funding confirmed by Transport Minister Andrew Jones. Bus operators and local authorities across

England have been awarded a share of the funding to buy low emission buses and other related

infrastructure. In total, the 13 successful bidders will be able to add 326 buses – including

biomethane, hydrogen, electric and hybrid buses – to their fleets, and install more than £7 million

worth of infrastructure.

“My message is clear – greener buses are good for passengers and good for British business. Low

emission buses have already proved to be a real success across the country. They are cost efficient,

good for the environment, and there are wider benefits. We have provided more than £2 billion of

funding to greener transport schemes since 2011, and by supporting this technology the government

is ensuring the UK is driving innovation and investment up and down the country,” said Transport

Minister Andrew Jones.

Successful bidders include Birmingham City Council and Transport for London, which has jointly won

£2.8 million for 42 state-of- the-art hydrogen fuel cell buses; Merseytravel, which has received £4.9

million for a total of 72 biomethane, hybrid buses and associated infrastructure; and Nottingham

City Transport, which has received £4.4 million for 53 biomethane buses and infrastructure.

Low emission buses produce at least 15% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than the average modern

diesel bus but they typically cost significantly more. The funding will cover up to 90% of the

difference in cost between a new bus and its diesel equivalent, as well as up to 75% of the cost of

infrastructure.

NGS INDIA