Gloucestershire’s ambitious rollout of electric buses is facing significant challenges, raising fears that the new fleet may need to rely on petrol or diesel generators due to delays in electrifying bus depots. The county is introducing environmentally friendly buses on routes linking Gloucester, Cheltenham, and Tewkesbury, as well as key city routes, with the aim of promoting zero-emission, cleaner travel.
Stagecoach plans to deploy 24 pure electric BYD ADL Enviro200EV single-deck buses across its Gloucestershire depots. However, a recent Gloucestershire County Council spending report reveals that over £1.1 million allocated last financial year remains unspent. The delay stems from difficulties in establishing electric vehicle charging points, largely because providers have struggled to secure suitable depot land and face challenges connecting to the electricity grid, attributed to “third party” involvement.
Public transport campaigner David Redgwell has pressed council leaders on measures being taken to urgently resolve these issues. He questioned whether the lack of suitable depots poses a risk to the delivery of the electric bus fleet and requested assurances that sufficient electricity supply will be in place for the depots in Cheltenham and Gloucester. Redgwell also raised concerns about the potential need to use emergency battery top-up solutions, such as petrol or diesel generators, to keep the electric buses operational.
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Previously, Gloucestershire had celebrated securing grant funding from the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas program, worth £143 million nationally. Gloucestershire’s share will bring 58 zero-emission buses to the county. Yet, challenges in depot electrification now threaten this progress.
Roger Whyborn, the county’s newly appointed cabinet member for sustainable transport and strategic highways, clarified that sourcing land for private operators is not the council’s direct responsibility but emphasized the council’s commitment to monitoring the situation closely. “We will keep a very close eye on any emerging issues and flag them if needed,” he stated.
Stagecoach West acknowledges the difficulties in upgrading older depot facilities to electric standards and commits to keeping both the council and DfT updated as the project advances.
A spokesperson for Stagecoach West said, “Electrifying older locations such as our depots in Cheltenham and Gloucester presents several challenges, all anticipated from the project’s outset. We are continuing to work through these issues and provide updates to Gloucestershire County Council and the Department for Transport.”
The Go-Ahead Group, another operator involved in the region, has been approached for comment but has yet to respond.