The first of Cardiff Bus’ 36 electric buses has arrived in the Welsh capital, marking the start of the next phase in the operator’s project to provide a step-change in the city’s bus network. Works have been underway in recent weeks with new charging infrastructure installed at the company’s Sloper Road depot in preparation for the arrival of the 36 Yutong E12 zero-emission buses.
The arrival of the first electric bus now allows for driver training and the commissioning of the depot infrastructure ahead of their launch in the next few weeks. Paul Dyer, Managing Director at Cardiff Bus, said: “We have been all about our city for nearly 120 years, and we are rightly proud of the part we play in city life. Cardiff Bus is the bus network in Cardiff, part of the city’s fabric, and this game changing development further underscores this. We’re proud to play our part in improving the air quality in the city.”
Paul added “I’d like to thank those involved in the project thus far, and now welcome our drivers, engineers and all support staff into the key part they will play getting these game-changing buses onto the streets of our fine city. This investment wasn’t possible without the support of wider stakeholders and, significantly, our shareholder, Cardiff Council. We look forward to continuing to work with our shareholder to make buses the way of moving around our city – an objective we both share and are working hard to achieve.”
In addition to their environmental and green credentials, Cardiff Bus said the electric buses will also provide a comfortable and quiet ride for its customers. The buses are fitted with next stop audio and visual announcements and USB charging ports to make journeys easier for customers.
