ELECTRIC buses are to be used on the Wellington to Taunton route following a Government grant and a huge First Bus investment.

The No 22 service is one of five routes operating out of Taunton which will be allocated electric buses by the end of next year, making them more efficient, comfortable, sustainable, and reliable.

Somerset Council has been awarded a £2.2 million allocation in the second round of the Department for Transport’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) programme, adding to £12.5 million being put in by the bus company.

The new zero-emission buses will replace older diesel vehicles and meet enhanced accessibility standards as well as having on-board wi-fi and USB charging sockets.

First Bus is ploughing more than £12 million into electric buses for Somerset.
First Bus is ploughing more than £12 million into electric buses for Somerset. PHOTO: First Bus. ( )

The funding will also cover the charging infrastructure which is needed to support the electric buses.

First Bus has extensive experience of delivering electrification projects across five of its other UK depots as part of the first round of ZEBRA funding.

Each new bus is expected to save up to 60 tonnes of tailpipe emissions per year.

Transport generates the largest proportion of carbon emissions by sector in Somerset, 44 per cent in 2019, which is significantly higher than the 27 per cent total for the UK.

First Bus South managing director Simon Goff said: “We are delighted to be bringing electric buses to Somerset, supporting cleaner, greener travel in the county.

“We are making a major investment in this project, which shows our strong commitment to our passengers and bus services in Somerset.

“We have worked in close partnership with Somerset Council to get to this point, and we cannot wait to get these vehicles on the road.

“This vital project will improve travel for our customers who will benefit from these state-of-the-art vehicles, including improved air quality and a much better journey experience overall.

“We are proud to be a leader in sustainable transport, and this marks an exciting point for bus travel across Somerset.”

Wellington MP Rebecca Pow welcomed the news and said: “Buses are vital to people across Taunton Deane, helping people to get to work, school, appointments, and making those journeys more reliable and comfortable makes a real difference to people.

“I have been making the case for cleaner public transport and I am delighted the Government is committing a further £2.2 million, meaning more modern and reliable fleets.

“These electric buses will mean cleaner air and a greener future for all of us.”

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “This latest investment into our bus fleet comes on top of the £3.5 billion we have invested into our bus network since 2020, protecting and improving bus routes into 2025 as well as extending the £2 bus fare cap until the end of 2024, made possible by reallocated HS2 funding.”

Somerset executive Cllr Richard Wilkins said: “This is incredibly exciting news for Somerset and a major part of our drive towards a cleaner, greener, county and we are really grateful to First Bus South for their major investment in Somerset’s future.”