Nottingham City Council’s electric bus fleet, operated in partnership with Nottingham Community Transport and trentbarton, has won the Environment award at the UK Bus Awards on November 24, 2015.
The Council’s fleet of clean and green electric buses was in competition with industry leaders, including Stagecoach, for the award that recognises the importance of the fleet’s low carbon and clean-air credentials.
Councillor Nick McDonald, Portfolio Holder for Growth, Jobs and Transport at Nottingham City Council, said: “This success recognises the huge strides that are being made to encourage low emission transport in Nottingham. The electric bus fleet is set to grow next year and is already the largest electric bus fleet in Europe.
“The ‘Electrifying Nottingham’ award bid showed the many benefits the service brings to Nottingham, including being very quiet, creating no pollution and saving money when compared to traditional diesel engines. Being electric, the buses do not have any carbon or other noxious gas emissions which is better for residents, businesses and visitors to the city.”
The Electric Bus Partnership started in September 2012 in conjunction with .trentbarton and Nottingham Community Transport. Thirteen more all-electric vehicles will come into operation by September 2016 for the Park & Ride service.
Results show significant reductions in emissions when compared with a diesel bus – around 850 tonnes of CO2 and 10 tonnes of NOx in the past three years. The fuel cost savings compared with a diesel bus are around 85%. The cost savings from reduced fuel and servicing has enabled the Council to maintain its contracted bus network without any cuts to tendered services.