Start-up bus manufacturer Arrival, along with ADL and Yutong, will see orders placed for their electric buses, thanks to funding from the second round of the Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme (SULEBS), for which bids were made in January/February 2021.
Over £40.5 million of funding will support six completed bids, introducing a further 215 ultra-low emission buses – mostly electric – and supporting infrastructure across Scotland.
This Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme (SULEBS) is an evolution of the Scottish Green Bus Fund held each year between 2011 and 2018.
SULEBS supports the Scottish Government’s net zero targets, its commitment to delivering Low Emission Zones and Scotland’s ambitions for transport decarbonisation.
It provides support for the purchase of new ultra low emission buses up to a maximum 75% of the differential costs against diesel buses, depending on their zero emission running capability. Support is also available for the infrastructure for this technology of up to a maximum 75% of the capital cost.
The first round of SULEBS ran in August 2020. Over £10.1 million of funding supported four completed bids, for the introduction of 57 ultra-low emission buses, and supporting infrastructure.
Ember Core, which runs Ember Bus (pictured) operates the UK’s first battery-electric scheduled coach service using Yutong coaches, on its Dundee-Perth-Edinburgh route.
Second round funding – successful bids
First Glasgow No 1 Ltd
Bid: 35 single deck ADL, 91 double deck ADL buses and infrastructure
Total funding awarded to date: £24,301,840
McGill’s Bus Service Ltd
Bid: 33 single deck Yutong buses and infrastructure
Total funding awarded to date: £6,011,718
Ember Core Ltd
Bid: 6 single deck Yutong, 4 single deck Arrival buses and infrastructure
Total funding awarded to date: £1,302,634
Stagecoach Scotland West
Bid: 15 single deck ADL buses and infrastructure
Total funding awarded to date: £2,666,359
Stagecoach Scotland East
Bid: 9 single deck ADL buses and infrastructure
Total funding awarded to date: £2,181,663
Stagecoach Bluebird
Bid: 22 double deck ADL buses and infrastructure
Total funding awarded to date: £4,079,134
