Newport Transport, the main bus operator for the city of Newport has ordered an additional 16 full-electric zero emission Yutong buses, from Pelican Bus and Coach, with an expected delivery of December 2021.
Using an additional funding of £2.8m from the UK Department for Transport (DfT) and its commercial partnerships, Newport Transport has ordered five new Yutong E12 single deck buses and eleven new Yutong E10 single deck buses, all fitted to the same high standard of the first fifteen that the people of Newport are already enjoying.
The current fleet of 15 Yutong E12 and one Yutong E10 have been in operation in the city of Newport since October 2020.
These additional buses will bring the number of fully electric zero emission buses at Newport Bus to 32, equating to a third of the fleet.
This also means that by 2022, 43% of the daily bus services provided by the company will have zero-emissions at the tail pipe. With air pollution known to be a major cause of illnesses, it becomes critical to provide improved public transport to the people of Newport, offering a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to private car use.
In addition, the new shorter Yutong E10 vehicles will enable Newport Bus to operate in areas not suitable to the longer E12 vehicles. Districts such as St Julians and the Gaer will soon benefit from the smooth ride and the no pollution at the tail pipe from electric buses.
Scott Pearson comments: “At Newport Transport, we are committed to delivering a green recovery to the people of Newport. This earlier than expected financial support from the DfT enables us to deliver at pace on our vision of a fleet with zero-emissions at the tail pipe.
“This new investment will bring Newport Transport’s investment in electric buses and the related infrastructure to £15 million over the financial years 20/21 and 21/22.
“I would also like to extend our thanks to Steve Meersman, from Zenobe Energy and Ian Downie from Pelican Bus and Coach without whom it would have taken us a lot longer to deliver emission-free transport to the people of Newport.”
FIND OUT MORE: Pelican Bus and Coach is exhibiting at the ITT Hub 2021 event on June 30-July 1, at Farnborough International, just off the M25, west of London. Register for your free place now! www.itthub.co.uk
