Stagecoach Bluebird has unveiled the first of 22 electric double decker buses it is putting on the streets of Aberdeen.
The bus operator has invested £11.2 million in the BYD-ADL Enviro 400 EV double deck buses with £4m in finance coming from the Scottish Government’s Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme.
Stagecoach ordered the buses last year, which were assembled at BYD-ADL’s plant in Falkirk.
The buses have low-floor easy access, are fitted with E-leather seats – a material made entirely from recycled leather – and include on-board stop announcements.
They will be based at the Tullos depot to operate on services 59 and 727, connecting the city centre with Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, The Event Complex Aberdeen (TECA) and Aberdeen International Airport, as well as running through residential areas.
Stagecoach has been training its team of drivers and engineers ahead of the arrival of the new vehicles, which it is planning to put into service later this month.
Peter Knight, Managing Director at Stagecoach Bluebird, said: “Sustainable transport is critical to the future of our planet: decarbonising local journeys, reducing road congestion, improving air quality and tackling climate change.
“Travelling by bus, when we can, is one of the easiest ways to address climate change through carbon reduction of our own journeys.
“Major investment in new zero-emission buses also needs to be matched by better road infrastructure and more bus priority measures to help encourage people to make the switch from car to sustainable public transport.”
Stagecoach North Scotland’s combined operation, including its Highlands and Bluebird divisions, runs a fleet of 383 buses and coaches.
The new vehicles are the first fully electric buses to join its fleet, adding to 15 hybrid double deck buses introduced in 2019.
