Hull City Council and the region’s two main bus operators – East Yorkshire Buses and Stagecoach East Midlands – have welcomed the Department for Transport’s (DfT) announcement of additional funding for the rollout of electric buses in Hull.
Today (Tuesday 8 April 2025), the Government confirmed it has made £3,907,844 available to increase the scope of the region’s ZEBRA2 (zero emission bus regional areas) project and enable the purchase of 42 more electric buses for use in the city – bringing the total number of new electric buses that will soon be operating in the region to 82.
The new funding comes on top of last year’s initial allocation of around £6million from the DfT for 40 new, fully accessible electric buses and the installation associated infrastructure, such as charging equipment, and will mean that the majority of Hull’s urban bus network will be operated by zero-emission vehicles.
Although buses make up a small proportion of overall emissions, transport is now the UK’s largest emitter of carbon.
The new electric buses will replace existing diesel vehicles operated by Stagecoach East Midlands and East Yorkshire Buses in Hull and the East Riding.
Electric buses run on rechargeable batteries and are quieter and provide a smoother ride. They are also easier to maintain.
They have a range of up to several hundred miles and are charged externally, usually at the depot on a plug, after the end of service.
Unlike diesel buses, they produce no carbon emissions or nitrogen oxides, so they can also contribute to improved air quality and help combat climate change.
Kerry Ryan, head of transport and traffic management at Hull City Council, said: “Today’s announcement from the DfT is welcome news for our city.
“Electric buses are greener and cleaner and will have a transformative impact on public transport throughout Hull.
“There are currently no electric or hybrid buses operating on public bus services in the city so, in addition to the environmental benefits, the new vehicles will have a wider impact by changing how our residents, and visitors to the city, see buses and help encourage, and increase, passenger demand.”
Ben Gilligan, managing director at East Yorkshire Buses, said: “We are delighted to receive the news that we have received further funding for additional electric buses. Not only will these make a real difference to air quality in the region, but they will also support UK manufacturing, with the vehicles being sourced from Wrightbus.
“The success of this bid is a true testament to the partnership working in place between the members of the Hull Bus Alliance.”
Matt Cranwell, managing director at Stagecoach East Midlands, said: “This funding is helping Stagecoach to accelerate our commitment to achieving net zero, helping to tackle climate change and contribute to the future of zero-emission travel.
“We’re looking forward to providing a smoother, more sustainable journey for our passengers thanks to this exciting new fleet of vehicles and the ongoing upgrades to our depots.”
