Lothian's four brand new all-electric double decker buses will be introduced into Edinburgh's route 10 today, which connects outlying parts of the city, Western Harbour and Bonaly with the city centre.
The £1.7 million project was funded as part of a flagship project of SP Energy Network's £20 million Green Economy Fund, which enables Edinburgh to take a major step in it's journey towards the city becoming Net Zero by 2030.
This news follows the announcement that the City of Edinburgh Council has committed to establishing a low emission zone, reducing the carbon footprint of public transport and these new electric buses will only add to the statement of intent the council have set out.
Transport Minister Graeme Dey, who attended the official launch of the new electric fleet at Dynamic Earth, said: “Scotland was one of the first countries in the world to declare a global climate emergency and with projects like this we continue to show our commitment to reducing emissions.
READ MORE -
“As the country comes out of the pandemic and restrictions continue to ease, it is essential that our recovery is a green one, which has returning to public transport at its heart. This all-electric service is welcome news both for Edinburgh bus users and the environment.
“It’s also fantastic to see private sector organisations collaborate to tackle climate change. The funding from SP Energy Networks to support Lothian’s electric fleet with buses made in Falkirk is very much an initiative to be welcomed and encouraged.’’
Nigel Serafini, Interim Managing Director at Lothian Buses, said: “Across the last decade, Lothian has removed around 15,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from our carbon footprint through our fleet replacement strategies, and the introduction of Edinburgh’s first fully electric double decker buses allows us to continue on this journey, further reducing our impact on the environment.
“These new buses are fitted with the most advanced zero emissions technology and the introduction of these vehicles across our Service 10 further cements our commitment to meet the requirements of the Scottish Government and The City of Edinburgh Council’s climate change strategies.
“We’re delighted to have been able to partner with SP Energy Networks’ Green Economy Fund on this project and look forward to working with them again in the future.”
The new vehicles also have USB charging points, on-board audio-visual next stop announcements and free Wi-Fi to provide a better overall customer experience.
You can check out more about the launch of the all-electric buses on the Lothian Buses website, here.
