
First Bus places one of UK’s largest ever EV bus orders with Wrightbus
-
Largest ever UK EV bus order outside of London
-
UK-built buses will secure green jobs in the UK
-
Includes introduction of world’s most efficient double-decker buses
-
A total investment of £81m in new Zero Emission vehicles to support bus services across England split between First Bus and the Department for Transport.
First Bus has placed one of UK’s largest Electric Vehicle (EV) bus orders with UK manufacturer Wrightbus, following successful bids with Local Authorities as part of the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) funding scheme.
The £81m order, totalling 193 buses, is the largest EV bus purchase outside of London and will see new zero emission buses being rolled out across England from March 2023.
First Bus will invest £43m in the new vehicles and will be supported to complete the electric fleet project with a £38m grant from the DfT.
First Bus has worked closely with five Local Authority partners to secure the funding, which helps to bridge the gap between the cost of a Euro VI diesel bus and the EV equivalent as well as the relevant infrastructure costs necessary to charge the vehicles.
The order will be split between the following five areas;
-
Leicester (68 buses) in partnership with Leicester City Council.
-
York (44 Buses) in partnership with City of York Council.
-
Leeds (32 Buses) in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
-
Norwich (15 Buses) in partnership with Norfolk County Council.
-
Portsmouth (34 Buses) in partnership with Portsmouth City Council & Hampshire County Council.
Each regional project will be completed over the course of the next two years. It means that First Bus will have over 500 EV buses in operation in what is a huge leap forward towards their pledge of an entirely zero emission fleet by 2035.
The new EV buses will be fully built in Northern Ireland at the Wrightbus facility in Ballymena in a significant boost for the UK economy and the manufacturing sector.
This latest partnership between First Bus and Wrightbus comes following the successful rollout of the world’s first double-decker Hydrogen buses in Aberdeen in 2020.
As one of the UK’s largest bus operators, First Bus will also work with the Ballymena-based bus builder to help upskill current and new engineers alike to help take their people on this decarbonisation journey with them. This will allow First Bus and Wrightbus to create new green jobs, as well as enhancing skillsets for existing staff.
First Bus UK, Managing Director, Janette Bell, said: “We are absolutely delighted to place our largest ever Zero Emission Vehicle order and to do so with a UK manufacturer. Wrightbus have a really exciting product that we feel will enhance the customer experience at the same time as benefitting the environment.
“As leaders in sustainable mobility, we are fully aligned with the Government’s ambitions for a net-zero carbon transport system, including zero-emission bus fleets. We will continue to work closely with central and Local Government across the UK to support the delivery of our shared decarbonisation ambitions and commitments.”
Ben Werth, Chief Commercial Officer at Wrightbus, said: "This is another significant deal for Wrightbus - the largest zero emissions bus order outside of London - and we are delighted to once again be partnering with First Bus in the drive to zero-emission public transport. First Bus, like us, is consistently on the forefront of new and exciting technology and at the forefront of zero- and low-emission travel.
“All of the buses - the GB Kite Electroliner BEV and the StreetDeck Electroliner BEV, which is the world's most efficient double decker battery-electric bus - will be manufactured and assembled at our Ballymena factory, which means support for jobs in NI, and wider across the UK through our domestic supply chain.
“2022 has been a remarkable year for Wrightbus so far, as this deal comes after our recent, historic deals with the National Transport Authority (NTA), Australia and Germany. This latest deal with First Bus strengthens the reputation we have forged in the zero-emission transport sector and will help play an important part in the UK’s ambitions for decarbonisation.”
Transport Minister Baroness Vere said: “It’s fantastic to see First Bus place the largest ever order of electric buses outside London, thanks to investment from our £270 million scheme.
“This marks a key stepping-stone towards our National Bus Strategy commitment of funding 4,000 zero-emissions buses, as we decarbonise and level up transport across the country.
“Not only does it drive forward our journey to Net Zero, but will also support hundreds of green, high-skilled jobs in the UK.”
Read more

Wrightbus’s first ever double-deck electric ‘low bridge’ buses launched in Leicester
Read on
















Wrightbus secures new deal to deliver zero emission buses to London
Read on
University students on the fast track to success thanks to Wrightbus racing car sponsorship
Read on
Arriva London makes further commitment to delivering a sustainable bus network across London.
Read on
Funding Award For Ballymena Hydrogen Production Facility at Wrightbus Site
Read on
Wrightbus secures new deal to deliver zero emission buses to Leicester
Read on
£25 million to boost roll-out of British-made green buses around the country
Read on
Recruitment Evening Encourages More Women Into The Workplace
Read on
Transport Secretary hails hydrogen bus production at Wrightbus
Read on
Plans announced for state-of-the-art green hydrogen project at Wrightbus Ballymena
Read on



Fostering is next stop for Norman after 30 years at Wrightbus
Read on


Metroline places order with Wrightbus for zero-emissions buses
Read on


GLASGOW OPEN TOP BUSES WILL SOON BE ONE OF THE GREENEST TOURS IN THE WORLD
Read on


Translink signs contract with Wrightbus for 100 new Zero Emission buses
Read on

Wrightbus showcasing benefits of Hydrogen at Labour & Conservative Conferences
Read on

Wrightbus to supply hydrogen cell technology to leading Australian bus operator
Read on



Wrightbus staff form Guard of Honour in tribute to founder Sir William Wright
Read on

Wrightbus announced as Ballymena United sponsors for next two football seasons
Read on
New Sales Director for Parts & Services joins the Wrightbus team
Read on



NTA Announces Historic Agreement for 800 Battery-Electric Double-Deck Buses
Read on



Wrightbus signs landmark deal with Australia’s leading bus body manufacturer Volgren
Read on
Wrightbus Electroliner Officially World’s Most Efficient Double Deck Battery-Electric Bus
Read on




The first Wrightbus Electroliners set to enter passenger service in Belfast
Read on







Recruitment drive continues at leading bus manufacturer Wrightbus
Read on
Hydrogen-powered buses on the streets of the West Midlands for the first time.
Read on


Mallon unveils the first in Ireland Battery Electric Double Decker Bus for Public Transport
Read on

Fortescue Future Industries joins hand with JCB and Ryze Hydrogen
Read on
Wrightbus prevents one million kgs of CO2 from entering the atmosphere
Read on
The UK Hydrogen Roadshow shines spotlight on low carbon hydrogen innovation
Read on


Wrightbus creates hundreds of permanent jobs as bus orders flood in
Read on
Minister Poots visits Wrightbus to discuss its plans for green hydrogen economy
Read on




