Operators and stakeholders in Devon have welcomed the allocation of £5.3m of Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) funding to the region. A new fleet of 41 electric buses is to be delivered to Stagecoach for services around Exeter, North Devon and Torridge, with Stagecoach investing a further £15 million into the project. The buses will be used on Exeter service 4 and service A and the city’s park & ride green route, while in North Devon and Torridge they will operate on services 21 and 21A as well as town services in Barnstaple.
The buses are expected to be in service by early 2026, with Stagecoach planning to install new charging infrastructure at its Exeter and Barnstaple depots.
Councillor Andrea Davis, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport, said: “We want to tackle carbon emissions and reducing emissions of public transport can have a huge impact in helping us achieve our net zero targets. These new electric buses can help transform our local bus network in Devon and hopefully they will appeal to more people and encourage them to travel by bus.”
Managing Director at Stagecoach South West Peter Knight added: “This is an exciting and important moment for Stagecoach in the South West. As a key driver of supporting the move to net zero, our sustainability strategy sets out a roadmap to decarbonise by 70% by 2035 and to become a carbon-neutral business by 2050.
“We welcome this allocation of funding to local authorities for investment in new zero-emission buses. This support gives renewed confidence to the whole supply chain and will unlock significant private sector investment into new, clean vehicles.
“Securing this funding in partnership with Devon County Council will get us on the road to deliver our shared ambitions to reduce carbon emissions, deliver cleaner air and thriving bus services that support our region. We are delighted that government and Stagecoach Group are investing in the South West and we look forward to welcoming the new fleet that will benefit the local community and bus users alike.”
Transport Secretary Mark Harper, who recently made a visit to Stagecoach’s Cheltenham depot where he announced the award of £143m for zero-emission buses, commented: “As part of our plan to improve local transport across the South West, we’re providing over £43 million to roll out 352 brand new zero-emission buses across the region. This latest investment into our bus fleet comes on top of the £3.5 billion we have invested into our bus network since 2020, protecting and improving bus routes into 2025 as well as extending the £2 bus fare cap until the end of 2024, made possible by reallocated HS2 funding.”
In total, Stagecoach is participating in 11 projects to deploy 367 electric buses across England. Chief Operating Officer Sam Greer added: “We welcome this allocation of funding to local authorities for investment in new zero-emission buses. This support gives renewed confidence to the whole supply chain and will unlock significant private sector investment into new, clean vehicles.
“This is a really positive step forward in helping to reduce carbon emissions and deliver cleaner air, building on the funding already made available to support bus services in England through the £2 fare cap. We look forward to working with our local authority partners to deliver our shared ambitions for thriving bus services that support local communities.”
