Next summer we could be seeing new electric buses around Nottingham after a successful bid for Government funding by Nottingham City Council. These four new buses will operate on the Centrelink service- the new free bus service linking Victoria Centre, the Old Market Square and Broadmarsh.
The Department for Transport are offering up to 100% of the difference between the cost of a standard bus and the equivalent low carbon bus. The Government hope to stimulate the introduction and use of low carbon buses across England by offering this funding.
The City Council bid for four electric engine Optare solos to operate the Centrelink service which is the new free bus service linking Victoria Centre, the Old Market Square and Broadmarsh Centre and is part of the City Council’s ‘We’re on your side initiative’. This will see the City Council and operators Trentbarton Buses remove three diesel engine buses from operation.
The City Council bid for the difference in cost between electric and diesel buses from the Green Bus Fund. The base cost of the diesel buses is scheduled expenditure from the Local Transport Plan 2010/2011.
Cllr Jane Urquhart, Portfolio Holder for Transport and Area Working at Nottingham City Council, said; “The introduction of low carbon buses is a key factor in helping our green credentials as a City Council. Alongside our ecolink buses, these new electric buses will be a key factor in helping to reduce our carbon emissions across the city and help us to become cleaner and greener.”
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