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Wrightbus wins 拢81m deal to supply almost 200 electric buses

Wrightbus bus

The bus manufacturer has won an order to supply almost 200 electric buses in England

By John Campbell
91热爆 News NI Economics & Business Editor

Ballymena bus manufacturer Wrightbus has won an order to supply almost 200 electric buses to England.

The buses are being bought by First Bus in a deal valued at 拢81m, supported with a UK government grant of 拢38m.

The grant helps to bridge the gap between the higher cost of an electric bus compared to a diesel bus.

Wrightbus said the deal to supply First Bus in five areas of England was the largest zero emissions bus order outside of London.

The order will be split across five areas:

  • Leicester (68 buses) in partnership with Leicester City Council

  • York (44 Buses) in partnership with City of York Council

  • Leeds (32 Buses) in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority

  • Norwich (15 Buses) in partnership with Norfolk County Council

  • Portsmouth (34 Buses) in partnership with Portsmouth City Council & Hampshire County Council

The grant funding comes from the Department for Transport's Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) funding scheme.

UK Transport Minister Baroness Vere said: "This marks a key stepping-stone towards our National Bus Strategy commitment of funding 4,000 zero-emissions buses, as we decarbonise and level up transport across the country.

"Not only does it drive forward our journey to net zero, but will also support hundreds of green, high-skilled jobs in the UK."

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