Pollution-busting plans for Coventry to become the UK’s first All
Electric Bus City have been backed by the West Midlands Combined
Authority (WMCA) leaders today.
Under the ground-breaking project, every bus in Coventry will be
electric powered by 2025, leading to improved air quality,
reduced greenhouse gas emissions and lower running costs.
Approval from the WMCA Board means that £50 million Department
for Transport (DfT) funding will now be handed to the region to
deliver the project.
Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), which is part of the WMCA,
will work with bus operators to replace buses and install
charging infrastructure on the streets of Coventry. This includes
pantograph, or overhead, charging points which will be available
to all bus operators.
Mayor of the West Midlands , who chairs the WMCA, said: “It took a lot of lobbying
and persuading, but I am delighted we won the Government’s
national competition to turn Coventry’s bus fleet all electric.
“It was great to welcome the Prime Minister to Coventry this week
to talk about our all-electric plans, and crucially today’s
confirmation by the WMCA board now unlocks his Government’s £50
million investment, meaning we can get on with rolling out the
clean, green, electric buses onto the city’s roads.
“Not only will the clean bus fleet improve the public transport
offering in Coventry, but it is also another step towards
tackling the climate emergency and helping to attract people to
leave their cars at home in favour of taking the bus.
“This is a great time for bus users in Coventry, with our newly
refurbished Pool Meadow bus station, the trial of West Midlands
On Demand buses serving the University of Warwick campus, as well
our wider investment in fare-capping and better value fares, bus
priority measures, real-time travel information and on board
facilities like wi-fi and USB charging.
“It is a bus revolution here in the West Midlands, and Coventry
is right at the heart of it.”
Transport Minister, Baroness Vere, said: “Our £50m investment
will see Coventry’s entire fleet of buses replaced with new,
all-electric vehicles. This will have a profoundly positive
effect on air quality and emissions in the area and reduce noise
pollution.
“This Government is committed to decarbonising the transport
network across the UK, as we build back greener and strive to
achieve net zero by 2050.”
Cllr Jim O’Boyle, cabinet member for jobs and regeneration at
Coventry City Council, said: “We have finally got this over the
line after we were able to convince the government that this city
is the ideal location and this will make a major dent in
addressing air pollution.
“We already have a range of schemes to improve air quality and
this will help exceed our targets.
“We have great working relations with bus companies in the city
and these are exciting times for all of us. The hard work starts
now.”
TfWM will lead the project in partnership with Coventry City
Council, Warwickshire County Council and local bus operators –
who are together paying 25% of the added costs of electric
vehicles over diesel and charging infrastructure.
This is a major project for bus operators across Coventry, and
attracts significant investment from them to replace every bus in
their fleet within five years. Operators, including National
Express Coventry, which launched 10 electric buses in service
last summer, and Stagecoach, will also ensure the new buses offer
customers the best in on-board comfort and technology, as well as
being good for the environment.
The clean air benefits will be felt beyond the city boundary, as
many services which start or finish in Coventry serve
Warwickshire, Solihull, Birmingham, Rugby and Leicester. This
will support the #WM2041 target for the region to be net-zero
carbon within two decades
Coventry was selected to be the UK’s first All Electric Bus City
following a successful bid to the DfT. Applicants were required
to demonstrate support from stakeholders in their local areas,
outline existing plans to reduce greenhouse gases and improve air
quality, and show how the plan would tackle an existing air
quality problem.
This year TfWM is already on target to for buses to be Euro-VI
compliant low emission vehicles – but this plan sets the region
well on the road towards a zero-emission bus fleet.
Notes to Editors:
Transport for West Midlands is part of the West Midlands Combined
Authority.
The WMCA comprises:
Constituent members: Birmingham City Council, City of
Wolverhampton Council, Coventry City Council, Dudley Metropolitan
Borough Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, Sandwell
Metropolitan Borough Council and Walsall Metropolitan Borough
Council.
Non-constituent authorities with reduced voting rights: Cannock
Chase District Council; Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council;
Redditch Borough Council; Tamworth Borough Council; Telford and
Wrekin Council; North Warwickshire Borough Council; Rugby Borough
Council; Stratford-on-Avon District Council; Shropshire Council;
Warwickshire County Council.
LEPs (Local Enterprise Partnerships): LEPs are voluntary
partnerships between local authorities and businesses. They
determine local economic priorities and lead on economic growth
and job creation within their areas. They are: Black Country LEP,
Coventry and Warwickshire LEP and Greater Birmingham and Solihull
LEP
Observer organisations awaiting membership: Herefordshire Council
and The Marches LEP
