Leicester’s growing fleet of electric buses has now saved more than 27,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2), the equivalent of planting over one million trees.
Each electric bus saves around 40 tonnes of CO2 a year compared with a diesel bus. With 190 buses now in service across the One Network, the fleet is saving around 7,600 tonnes of CO2 every year, the same as taking 3,800 cars off the road.
The roll-out continues, with Leicester Buses on track to have a fully electric network of more than 250 buses by the end of 2027.
The electric buses have been funded through a mixture of the Transforming Cities Fund, the Department for Transport’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme, local ZEBRA funding and commercial investment from operators.
All of the buses carry the distinctive green Leicester Buses One Network livery and offer passengers a quieter, smoother ride with zero exhaust emissions. They also feature next-stop audio-visual announcements, hearing loops and an additional wheelchair space to improve the passenger experience and accessibility.
The electric fleet builds on the transformation of St Margaret’s Bus Station, which reopened in 2022 as the UK’s first carbon-neutral bus station.
Councillor Geoff Whittle, Assistant City Mayor for Environment and Transport, said: “A figure like 27,000 tonnes of carbon can be hard to picture, but the equivalent of over a million trees really shows the difference Leicester’s electric buses are making to the air we all breathe.
“Every time someone chooses the bus, they’re helping to make Leicester a cleaner, healthier place to live, work and visit.
“With more electric buses still to come, we’re on track to have a fully electric network by the end of 2027.”
Since launch, the partnership has delivered a range of improvements for passengers, including all-operator Flexi tickets with contactless fare capping, the free Hop! city centre bus service, integrated timetables on shared corridors, and major improvements to bus stops and passenger information.
For more information about the One Network Partnership visit: leicesterbuses.co.uk/one-network-partnership
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