Transport Scotland funding will see First Glasgow upgrade exhaust systems on 165 vehicles to Euro VI standard
First Bus Scotland has been awarded over £3m as part of Transport Scotland’s Scottish Bus Emission Abatement Retrofit (BEAR) scheme following the announcement of the latest round of funding allocations.
The Scottish Government grant towards the overall cost means that 165 further buses will have their exhaust systems changed to meet the current Euro VI standard – the cleanest diesel engines currently available – which will significantly improve emissions of Nitrogen Oxide (NOX) and fine particulate matter (PM2) across First’s Glasgow network.
The grant allows operators to upgrade the exhaust systems on mid-life vehicles to achieve a significantly lower emissions output. In Scotland alone, First Glasgow recently reached a significant milestone with more than 40% of vehicles being Euro VI standard or better, and the retrofit programme is playing a part in enhancing this LEZ compliance plan, with over 60% of the vehicles reaching Euro VI standard once the 165 vehicle project is completed.
First Bus is focused on becoming a leader in the transition to a low-carbon future and has recently announced its commitment to operating a zero-emission bus fleet by 2035 as well as pledging not to purchase any new diesel buses after December 2022.
Andrew Jarvis, Managing Director for First Bus in Scotland, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this funding. Cleaner air is vitally important to all of us in society and we are determined to play our part in the communities that we serve.
“This is another step on our journey to operating a fully zero emission fleet by 2035 and we are already leading the way with the first commercially operated electric buses in Glasgow as well as the soon-to-launch world’s first double decker hydrogen buses in Aberdeen.
“We have been key partners with Local Authorities on the introduction of fair Low Emission Zones across Scotland. We have led the way with bus operators in Glasgow as a key partner with Glasgow City Council for the country’s first ever LEZ rollout.”
