Hull and the East Riding have taken a major step towards cleaner air and greener transport this week, as East Yorkshire Buses unveiled its brand-new fleet of zero emission vehicles.
A joint investment of £16.5million through the Government’s ZEBRA (Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas) initiative will see 27 new British-built electric vehicles delivered to East Yorkshire Buses. The funding partnership includes Hull City Council, East Riding of Yorkshire Council and East Yorkshire Buses, part of the Go-Ahead Group.
The investment represents some of the first zero emission buses for Hull, marking a significant milestone for the city and surrounding communities.
Switching from diesel to electric buses will help cut emissions, reduce noise and deliver a cleaner, smoother and more comfortable journey for passengers. The fleet will make a real and lasting difference to air quality along busy routes.
The new buses, which are due to enter service at the beginning of next month, will operate on routes 56, 57 and 58, serving key locations including Hull, Cottingham and Hessle. The routes provide important links for communities, helping people get to work, education as well as staying connected with friends and family.
To celebrate the milestone, the new fleet took centre stage at the iconic venue, The Deep, at a special launch event named ‘Shock the Dock’, with a dramatic ‘power up’ moment.
Kerry Ryan, head of transport and traffic management at Hull City Council, said: “These new vehicles represent the start of a revolution of Hull’s public transport network and will have a transformative impact throughout the city.
“As well as providing a better journey and experience for the travelling public, they will also improve the reliability of services and help us encourage, and increase, passenger demand.”
Matthew Ashton, managing director for East Yorkshire Buses, said: “This investment demonstrates what can be achieved when operators, local councils and Government work together with a shared vision. These new electric buses will make a real difference for our customers and for the dedicated drivers and colleagues who deliver our services every day, providing a smoother, quieter, and more comfortable experience for everyone.”
Freya Cross, head of business and corporate at The Deep, said: “We’re thrilled to have been the venue of choice to support the exciting launch of East Yorkshire Buses’ new electric bus fleet.
“This celebratory event signified a hugely important step towards us collectively building a greener Humber region, aligning with The Deep’s ethos as a renowned environmental charity in the city.
“It’s been a pleasure to work alongside the team at East Yorkshire Buses and with HPSS on light production, providing us with a fun and challenging brief to deliver a hugely successful launch event.”
This milestone marks the start of a new, cleaner chapter for bus travel across Hull and the East Riding.
For more information about the new vehicles visit the East Yorkshire Buses website