Cheltenham-based bus and coach operator Pulhams has put 15 electric buses into service and upgraded one of its depots, following an £8 million investment.
The company’s refurbished depot at Golden Valley in Staverton, has 16 electric charging points, as well as a new bus wash, new fuelling system, refurbished offices and improved driver rest facilities.
Also, the new fleet includes seven double-decker Wrightbus Electroliners with 442kWh battery packs, as well as eight single-decker Wrightbus GB Kites – four 11.6m variants with 528 kWh battery packs and four 10.2m variants with 442kWh battery packs.
All the vehicles have been developed and built by Wrightbus at its factory in Ballymena, Northern Ireland.
The project has seen £6.63m spent on the electric buses and £1.54m on charging infrastructure.
Go-Ahead Group, the parent company of Pulhams, contributed £4.7m, another £3.21m came from the Department for Transport’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme, and Gloucestershire County Council invested £255,000.
Pulhams said the project will save more than 700 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.
John McLeister, Managing Director for Sales in the UK and Ireland at Wrightbus, said: “These Gen 2 Electroliners are the most efficient battery electric buses we have ever produced, with class-leading range, charging speed and battery life.
“This investment from Pulhams shows the importance of zero-emission transport.
“And because the buses have been developed and built in our UK factory in Ballymena, this fleet of buses will not only help to improve air quality across Cheltenham, but will also support good green jobs in the wider UK manufacturing sector.”
