Hampshire County Council is investing over £3m to enhance the charging infrastructure for its electric bus fleet.
The £3.4m boost is being provided through the local authority’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) and will be targeted towards the improvement of charging and power infrastructure at Stagecoach’s Farlington depot.
It will support upgrades to electrical systems and grid connections, while also funding the rollout of up to 77 new electric buses, which will operate on routes across Portsmouth, Havant, Hayling Island, Waterlooville and Petersfield.
In a bid to support ‘cross-country sustainable transport links’, a further 11 electric buses are to be added to Service 700 between Portsmouth and Chichester, with Stagecoach South confirming that the move is backed by funding from West Sussex County Council.
To help achieve the broader aims of creating a fully zero-emission bus fleet by 2035, Stagecoach South revealed that 22 new electric double decker buses are also to be introduced on services in Surrey and Blackwater Valley.
The plans have been defined by Stagecoach South as part of its ‘silent revolution’ – which refers to the ‘phased transition combining visible fleet upgrades with the infrastructure required to scale electric operations across the region’.
Marc Reddy, Managing Director of Stagecoach South, said: ‘This is about delivering a cleaner, quieter and more accessible bus network for the communities we serve, built on strong collaboration with local authorities, industry partners and local communities.’
Cllr Steve Forster, Hampshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Passenger Transport, said that the changes are designed to improve the speed, frequency, and reliability of services, as well as reducing congestion and boosting air quality.
Steve Bax, Deputy Cabinet Member for Highways at Surrey County Council, added that the 22 new electric buses in Surrey are predicted to create carbon savings of roughly 15 tonnes throughout the operational lives of the vehicles.
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Photo: © Ben Wicks.
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