MGill’s owners urge operators to speed up zero emission transition
McGill’s Group owners Sandy and James Easdale have urged operators to go further and faster to play their part in halting climate change. The brothers made the call as McGill’s unveiled a new fleet of 68 electric buses in Renfrewshire.
The total investment made by McGill’s in the fleet is £32.5million, which has been supported by funding from the Scottish Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme.
McGill’s is now the largest operator of electric buses in Scotland and the fleet will be serving the COP26 climate conference when it gets underway in Glasgow in a month’s time.
James Easdale, chair of McGill’s Group, says: “It is crucial that everyone – individuals, businesses and government – play their part in trying to drive down carbon emissions. This year has seen a shift in attitudes towards climate change and there is a recognition that we need to act fast, not simply set new targets for a decade down the road.
“We’re delighted to launch the new fleet of 68 all-electric buses which will deliver zero emission journeys but this should only be the start for businesses such as ours.
“All transport operators need to act urgently to reduce their own carbon footprint and also work harder to entice people away from their cars. There are now almost 7.3 million more cars in Britain than there were in 2000 – this rate of growth can’t continue. We believe the new fleet will be an attractive option for the public but we’re also looking at technology such as hydrogen buses and how we can get them into service. If Scotland and the UK is to lead the way on climate change then we collectively need to transform what we are doing and we’re ready to invest to make that happen.”
Sandy Easdale adds: “The introduction of these additional vehicles into our Renfrewshire and Glasgow networks will bring a significant reduction in CO2 emissions, at over 2 billion grams every year.
“Yet purchasing new vehicles is not simply a tool to reduce our own emissions – it is about making bus travel an option for those who wouldn’t consider it currently which will in turn reduce congestion and fumes from cars on the road.”