Ireland’s NTA orders 120 electric double-decks from Wrightbus
Ireland’s NTA has confirmed an order for 120 double-deck battery-electric buses from Wrightbus as part of a framework agreement which provides for the procurement of up to 800 zero-emission battery-electric buses over a period of five years.
The Streetdeck Electroliner BEVs will be manufactured and assembled at the Wrightbus facility in Galgorm, on the outskirts of Ballymena in Northern Ireland.
The framework agreement between the NTA and Wrightbus is claimed to have the potential to be the single biggest bus procurement in Ireland’s history. These will be the first battery-electric double-deck buses to be added to the national bus fleet in Ireland and their addition will deliver a significant uplift in the proportion of low- or zero-emission buses within that fleet.
The initial order for 120 buses represents an investment of €80.4million.
Of the 120 buses currently on order, 100 are destined for use by Dublin Bus on bus services within the Dublin metropolitan area and 20 for use by Bus Éireann in Limerick. Buses from future orders may also be used to operate bus services in other parts of Ireland, including Cork, Galway and Waterford.
Minister for transport Eamon Ryan says: “We know that decarbonising transport is imperative, as part of our effort to tackle climate change. Public transport, because it is shared mobility, is already a far more sustainable and economical way of getting around, particularly compared to a private car that runs on fossil fuel, and the battery-electric buses that we are now ordering, will accelerate the transition to a zero-emission fleet.
“Going electric will reduce the carbon footprint of our public transport fleet, and will help us reach our long-term climate goals, as outlined in the Climate Action Plan. These new electric buses will also help reduce air pollution, improve public health and improve access to public transport for people of all abilities.”
Neil Collins, managing director, Wrightbus, adds: “We are extremely proud of this historic deal, which is hugely significant for Ireland’s decarbonisation ambitions and for us here at Wrightbus.
“This deal further cements the reputation we have built in the zero-emission sector, and follows hot on the heels of historic deals in Australia and Germany. This shows our ambition to be at the forefront of the zero emission drive in cities, towns and rural areas across the world.”