New electric bus fleet prepares to hit the streets

The first vehicles that are part of a new fleet of electric buses will soon be rolled out onto the streets of Plymouth and parts of Cornwall.

Plymouth Citybus is replacing some of its current diesel vehicles with 50 zero emission double-decker buses as part of a £32m project.

Bosses hope the move will reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality, as well as making journeys smoother for passengers.

The company has funded most of the project at a cost of nearly £20m with the rest of the funding coming from a government grant and contributions from Plymouth City Council and Cornwall Council.

Citybus employs 600 drivers who are now being retrained to operate the new electric buses.

The company's driving instructor, Emma Courtier, said it involves a very different way of driving.

She said: "It's going to be massively different. There are no gears so when you put your foot on the accelerator it is going to pull away very smoothly and the same for braking.

"Hopefully for our passengers and for the driver it's going to be a much smoother and much more comfortable ride."

The new buses will be served by 26 charging points that are currently being installed and will top up two vehicles at a time during the night.

Citybus said the new vehicles have also been made more accessible than the diesel buses they are replacing, with space for two wheelchairs.

The first of the buses are due to start running in June with all 50 of the fleet set to be out on the roads by the end of the year.

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