Scottish Government’s £50m of additional funding for zero emission buses
Alexander Dennis welcomed the Scottish Government’s announcement of the first £50million phase of a new Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB). The fund replaces previous funding streams and is designed to encourage the market to implement new and innovative ways to finance and deploy zero emission buses.
ScotZEB builds on the success of the Scottish Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme (SULEBS), which has enabled bus operators to order a total of 207 electric buses from the BYD ADL partnership over two funding rounds awarded in September 2020 and March 2021.
ScotZEB was unveiled by transport minister Graeme Dey at the Bus Decarbonisation Taskforce, which brings together senior leaders from the energy, bus and finance sectors to co-design a pathway to a fully decarbonised bus fleet.
Dey says: “The Scottish Government has come to the table with an evolved offer for zero emission bus funding – building on the experience of previous schemes and designed in a way that maximises opportunities to attract sustainable financing and encourage innovative ways of doing so. £50 million is available in 2021 to help drive a green recovery, responding to the global climate emergency and to helping to improve air quality.”
ADL president & managing director, Paul Davies, adds: “The Scottish Government continues to lead the way in funding cleaner, greener buses. We look forward to working with bus operators and the energy and finance sectors to ensure the benefits of this funding are felt across communities in Scotland.
“Investment in local supply chains such as our production of electric and hydrogen buses in Falkirk will underpin Scottish skilled jobs and apprenticeships that are vital for the transition to Net Zero.”