Newport Transport has announced that it has placed an order with Pelican Bus and Coach for an additional 16 battery-electric Yutong buses, with an expected delivery of December 2021.
Using additional funding of £2.8 million from the UK Department for Transport (DfT) and its commercial partnerships, Newport Transport has ordered five 12-metre Yutong E12 and 11 10-metre E10 single-deck buses, all fitted to the same high standard as the 15 delivered in October 2020.
These additional buses will bring the number of electric buses at Newport Bus to 32, equating to a third of the fleet, and means that by 2022, 43% of the daily bus services provided by the company will have zero emissions at the tail pipe.
The new shorter E10 vehicles will enable Newport Bus to operate in areas not suitable to the longer E12 buses, with areas such as St Julians and the Gaer to benefit from the smooth ride and the lack of emissions.
Newport Tranport’s Scott Pearson commented: “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.”
Newport Transport operates as Newport Bus and is the main bus operator in the city of Newport, South Wales with a network of over 40 services carrying more than 7m passengers per year. With a turnover of nearly £11m, the company employs over 200 people.
