£1.8 million investment set to power new fleet of electric buses across Hampshire
Hampshire County Council funds electric bus infrastructure project
Hampshire County Council has announced a £1.8 million investment aimed at establishing a new fleet of electric buses on key routes across the county.
The funding, drawn from the 2025/26 Bus Service Improvement Plan, will be directed towards creating charging and power infrastructure at Stagecoach’s Farlington depot in Portsmouth.
Three different bus operators submitted applications for support in developing electric bus infrastructure, signalling the growing shift towards battery-electric fleets across Hampshire’s transport network.
Stagecoach's successful bid will enable the installation of new charging infrastructure, the upgrading of electrical cabling, and enhanced grid connections at the depot.
According to the council, this initiative is anticipated to attract private sector investment for 77 new electric buses.
Once operational, these buses will serve routes linking Portsmouth, Havant, Hayling Island, Waterlooville, and Petersfield, thus expanding zero-emission travel options across the region.
Hampshire County Council stated that its strategy of funding infrastructure rather than vehicles directly is designed to maximise private investment while speeding up the transition to cleaner transport.
Marc Reddy, Managing Director of Stagecoach South, expressed support for the council's initiative.
“Stagecoach welcomes the support from Hampshire County Council, which represents an important step forward in accelerating the transition to a zero-emission bus network.
“This investment will enable us to deliver the infrastructure needed to support a new generation of electric vehicles across the region. These improvements will help us introduce newer, greener vehicles, enhance journey times and provide a better experience for all our customers.
“They also reflect our ongoing commitment to reducing emissions, improving air quality and providing more sustainable public transport for the communities we serve. We look forward to working closely with our partners to deliver these upgrades and to ensuring passengers benefit from a cleaner, quieter and more reliable bus service,” Reddy said.