Electric buses are set to launch on the Isle of Wight
The Southern Vectis buses will initially be used for engineering and driver training before launching on service routes later in March
All new electric buses are launching across the Isle of Wight as part of a zero emission scheme.
The Southern Vectis buses will initially be used for engineering and driver training before launching on service routes later in March.
The buses are the first of 31 brand new electric vehicles as part of a success bid in partnership with Isle of Wight Council, for funding from the Department for Transport’s ZEBRA 2 (Zero Emission Bus Regional Area) scheme.
Councillor Julie Jones-Evans, chair of the Isle of Wight Council’s economy, regeneration, transport and infrastructure committee, said: “The arrival of these first electric buses marks an exciting and important step in our journey to modernise the Island’s transport network.
"Our partnership with Southern Vectis and the Department for Transport means Islanders will benefit from cleaner, quieter and more reliable journeys, while helping us reduce emissions and improve air quality.
"This investment is not just about transport - it supports our wider ambitions for regeneration, sustainability and a thriving future for the Isle of Wight.”
Funding is set to further projects in the council’s published Bus Service Improvement Delivery Plan, with improvements to cross Island routes, integration with other transport operations and enhanced local town services.
Funding also follows multi-million-pound improvement works at Ryde Transport Interchange, which saw the Esplanade bus interchange being remodelled to make it safer for buses to manoeuvre, among other changes.