Continuing the green journey: 9 additional electric buses for Plymouth

We’re thrilled to announce another milestone in our journey toward sustainable travel across the South West: nine additional electric buses are joining our fleet!

Last year, in partnership with Plymouth City Council, Cornwall Council and the Department for Transport, we celebrated a major achievement when  50 electric buses were introduced across Plymouth and Cornwall, transforming local travel with cleaner air, quieter streets and a modern passenger experience. 

Now, building on that success, a further nine vehicles will expand capacity, improve passengers’ journeys and continue driving our commitment to greener, more accessible transport in Plymouth and its travel-to-work area.

Richard Stevens Managing Director of Plymouth Citybus said: “It’s exciting to see our electric fleet expanding once again. These additional buses represent another important step toward delivering cleaner, greener transport for the communities we serve, while continuing to improve the overall journey experience for our customers.”

The additional nine zero emission double decker buses are being funded from extra investment by Go-Ahead and the previous contribution from the Department for Transport’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) 2 fund.

Councillor John Stephens, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport at Plymouth City Council, said: “It’s fantastic news that Plymouth Citybus, enabled by the funding we secured from the Government’s ZEBRA 2 fund in partnership with Go-Ahead and Cornwall Council in 2024, is introducing another nine electric buses to its fleet this year. 

“This will mean more than half of the Plymouth-based fleet will be zero-emission, which is a fantastic achievement and demonstrates the commitment of all the partners to reducing carbon emissions and providing high quality public transport.

“This is a fantastic project and one that I’m thrilled has been recognised nationally, having recently been shortlisted for an MJ Award in the Innovation in Public Private Partnerships category.”

Securing the funding for this next phase highlights the region’s dedication to a low emission future. Each new bus represents a step forward in reducing our environmental footprint while offering reliable, convenient travel for communities across the South West.

We can’t wait for these buses to hit the roads in late spring and contribute to a cleaner, greener, and better connected region. The journey continues, and the future looks brighter and greener than ever!