Stagecoach places largest ever electric bus order in Stockport, UK

Credit: Stagecoach

Stagecoach has announced that it is planning to introduce a total of 170 fully electric vehicles in Stockport, UK, as it places its largest ever electric bus order to date. 

The electric fleet of 150 double deck and 20 single deck vehicles, which will be produced by Volvo/MCV, represent a £37.2 million investment by Stagecoach and will benefit customers in Stockport, with the first vehicles of the order to be delivered in summer 2024. 

The buses will be jointly funded by Stagecoach and the local and national government, with Stagecoach’s £37.2 million investment match-funded by £35.7 million from Greater Manchester’s successful Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) bid and an additional contribution of £12.5 million by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM)/ Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA). 

The new electric buses will be fully accessible, with wheelchair bays, hearing induction loops, audio and visual announcement systems and anti-slip flooring. 

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In addition, Stagecoach is introducing a further 122 new fully electric buses in key transport networks across the UK in the next 12 months. The operator has also recently introduced its first fully electric bus cities in Perth, Aberdeen, Inverness and Dunfermline in Scotland and in 2020 made one of the biggest single investments in electric vehicles in Europe with its double-decker fleet in Manchester. 

These investments as well as its order for Stockport builds further on the operator’s commitment to have a zero-emission bus fleet by 2035. 

Sam Greer, Engineering Director for Stagecoach, said: “We’re excited to be announcing our largest electric vehicle order to date, which will be a major step forward in improving air quality across the region. This builds further on the investment being made by Stagecoach across the country to support the transition to a zero-emission bus fleet.”