New electric vehicles for Glasgow backed byTransport Scotland SULEB fund
First Bus has been awarded more than £4million as part of Transport Scotland’s new funding programme, the Scottish Ultra Low Emission Bus scheme (SULEB), which will help support the purchase of 22 new electric buses for its Glasgow bus network.
The new buses will be made by Alexander Dennis at Falkirk providing a boost for the sector and helping to secure jobs in the local area. First Glasgow is investing more than £5million alongside the government funding.
Scottish Power Energy Networks will also be providing more than £300,000 in contribution to the project from its Green Economy Fund which will go toward the electrical infrastructure needed to charge the vehicles at First Glasgow’s Caledonia Depot.
The project is aimed to be completed by autumn 2021 in time for the city hosting COP26, the UN Climate Change Conference.
Andrew Jarvis, managing director, First Glasgow, says: “In January this year, we launched the city’s first electric buses on a commercial bus route since the trams and trolleybuses of the past and we are proud that we can now build upon this with another 22 fully electric vehicles, which will replace the oldest buses in our fleet to further improve air quality in the city of Glasgow.”
Cabinet secretary for transport, infrastructure and connectivity Michael Matheson adds: “The Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme is providing economic stimulus to help drive a green recovery, responding to the climate emergency whilst improving air quality. I’m pleased that these new buses will be manufactured in Scotland, helping to support jobs and our bus manufacturing sector.”