First Bus and Go-Ahead Pour Millions into Supercharging Their Electric Fleets

In a bold move accelerating the UK’s green transport revolution, First Bus has announced a sweeping £70 million investment to roll out an additional 160 zero-emission buses across the West of England. But this funding is not just about the vehicles themselves—it also fuels the transformation of depot infrastructure, enabling electric charging stations and maintenance hubs tailored for a zero-emissions future.

As part of this initiative, a further £20 million has been unlocked through collaboration with the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, pushing the total commitment north of £90 million. The result? Half of First Bus’s West of England fleet will soon run entirely without tailpipe emissions.

Once deployed, First Bus’s zero-emission fleet will number 258 strong in the region, collectively carrying an estimated 750,000 passengers weekly. The environmental benefit is substantial—each new electric bus cuts 75 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually compared to the legacy diesel fleet. That’s not a minor tweak; it’s a transformative shift.

Janette Bell, Managing Director for First Bus, stated: “We’ve reached a significant milestone today as we invest further in our journey towards a zero-emission bus fleet. We’re thrilled that our people and customers in the West of England will benefit from Government co-funding for these transformative projects.

“It’s been a tremendous joint effort from us and our combined authority partners to get here, and we cannot wait to get these vehicles out into service.”

This announcement builds on First Bus’s broader national ambitions. With over 1,000 zero-emission buses, the company is gunning for a fully emissions-free UK fleet by 2035. Given its urban-centric routes—shorter, frequent, and ideal for electric vehicles—the transition seems not just feasible but inevitable. Still, according to Chief Sustainability and Compliance Officer Isabel McAllister, the company isn’t ruling out alternative fuels as part of the long-term mix.

First Bus isn’t alone in this electric charge. Competitor Go-Ahead Group is joining the race with plans to deploy 45 additional green buses across its network, including Hull, Plymouth, Brighton & Hove, Salisbury, and the Isle of Wight. With this latest addition, Go-Ahead’s total fleet of zero-emission buses—operational and on order—has soared past 1,500 units.

This surge of private investment runs in tandem with significant government backing. This week, the Department for Transport confirmed a £37.8 million injection into 12 local authorities across England. The aim? Accelerate the adoption of 319 new zero-emission buses. Even more notable—for every £1 of public funding, at least £3 in private capital is being leveraged.

Beneficiary regions include Nottinghamshire, Hull, and Bristol, all of which are poised to see fleets upgraded, streets quieted, and emissions slashed.

This isn’t just about green vehicles—it’s a catalyst for job creation in engineering, green manufacturing, and construction. The initiative feeds directly into the UK Government’s broader Plan for Change, complementing previous efforts like the Zero Emission Bus Regional Area 2 (ZEBRA) programme, which has already funded nearly 1,000 clean buses nationwide.