Major funding bid to improve air quality with zero-emissions buses
Plans for new electric buses will cut emissions and improve air quality in Brighton & Hove.
The council, in partnership with Brighton & Hove Buses, are making a funding bid for 16 electric buses and charging infrastructure to the government’s ZEBRA 2 fund.
Replacing diesel buses with zero-carbon alternatives will support our vision for an accessible, clean, and sustainable city by helping the city meet air quality targets.
Tackling poor air quality
Councillor Trevor Muten, Chair of the Transport & Sustainability Committee, said:
“With transport accounting for a third of carbon emissions in the UK, investment in zero-emissions transport is an important part of our journey towards a sustainable, clean, equitable and accessible transport system.
“Data has shown that parts of the city have declining levels of air quality in recent years that can impact the health and wellbeing of residents, so we must act now to tackle this challenge and reverse this trend.
“Brighton & Hove was recently named as a global leader for climate action on CDP’s Cities A List, but there is still much more work to do in order to achieve our ambition of becoming a carbon neutral city.
“We have one of the best used bus networks in the country, with residents making more bus journeys per head of population than anywhere else outside of London.
“High quality, frequent and reliable buses are vital to the success of the city, helping to reduce congestion and improve air quality. Fully electric buses will help drive air quality improvements and decarbonise our popular public transport.”
Councillors approved the bid earlier this month.
Read the Zero Emissions Buses (ZEBRA 2) report discussed at the Transport & Sustainability Committee and Strategy, Finance & City Regeneration Committee.
An accessible, clean, and sustainable city
In 2022, transport accounted for 34% of UK territorial carbon dioxide emissions.
Providing electric buses will help to reduce carbon emissions on bus routes across Brighton & Hove, which existing heat maps have shown to be some of the city’s highest emission areas.
The new, more modern buses will be more accessible, including an induction loop for passengers with hearing aids and a flexible space in addition to the mandatory wheelchair space suitable for a second wheelchair user or multiple pushchairs or prams.
ZEBRA 2
The Department for Transport launched ZEBRA 2 in October 2023 to support the introduction of zero-emissions buses and charging infrastructure. The scheme will provide £129 million of investment across the UK in 2023/24 and 2024/25.
The Department for Transport will provide up to 75% of the cost difference between a Zero Emission Bus and a standard conventional diesel bus and up to 75% of the cost of supporting infrastructure. A local contribution of at least 25% is expected from bus operators and local transport authorities.
Read the Zero Emissions Buses (ZEBRA 2) report discussed at the Transport & Sustainability Committee and Strategy, Finance & City Regeneration Committee.