A NEW fleet of electric buses has been unveiled in York.

This morning (August 25) First Bus and City of York Council 'switched on' a new fleet of zero emission buses for York in a £23 million transformation that before the end of the year will see its York depot become the first outside London to be fully electric.

The buses herald a new York Electric branding with the first vehicles to be rolled out on city routes from Sunday (August 27).

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The multi-million pound scheme is a major step in meeting targets to reduce carbon emissions in York and will mean more than half the total bus fleet in the city is zero emission.

First Bus North & West Yorkshire managing director, Andrew Cullen was joined by Cllr Claire Douglas, Leader of City of York Council switching on the all-electric fleet with a giant power lever in front of Clifford’s Tower.

Each bus will save up to 60 tonnes of carbon emissions a year, meaning an anticipated annual reduction of more than 3,000 tonnes of CO2 when the full fleet is in operation.

Andrew Cullen, Managing Director of First Bus in North & West Yorkshire, said: “An even greener transport revolution beckons in York and we are leading this change.

“We’re proud to unveil these latest zero emission buses and are confident they will appeal to our customers and attract more people to consider bus travel by realising the real impact this has in reducing congestion, creating cleaner air and supporting the York economy.”

The buses can carry around 90 passengers and have a range of up to 200 miles on full charge.

Cllr Douglas said: “Bringing this new technology to York is an exciting, important step towards a healthier city and reaching our key goal of being net zero by 2030. As the York fleet gradually becomes fully electric, I hope it will attract more and more people to using buses as we deliver a vision for cleaner, more efficient ways of getting around our city.”

York Press: Andrew Cullen and Cllr Claire Douglas 'switch on' York Electric fleet Andrew Cullen and Cllr Claire Douglas 'switch on' York Electric fleet (Image: First York)

Also at the event was York’s Liberal Democrat councillor Paula Widdowson who said the new buses have been made possible thanks to the success of the council’s previous Lib Dem and Green administration in securing £10.2 million in funding from the Department of Transport’s Zero-Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) programme, with investment also being made by First.

Cllr Paula Widdowson, who is now York Lib Dem spokesperson for environment and climate change said: “Securing this investment, along with the backing from First, has enabled us to take huge steps in the right direction in supporting the switch to sustainable methods of travel. This will help us to achieve York’s net zero ambitions.

“The switch to electric-powered buses is part of a bigger picture of climate action that is set out in the York Climate Change Strategy, implemented by the Lib Dem and Green administration. The vision is to create a city where use of public transport is increasing, with passengers travelling on a bus fleet that is entirely electric.”