Fully-electric bus trialled in York in bid to cut emissions

The Metrodecker EV was put into service on York’s park and ride network yesterday, as the city became the first in the UK outside of London to trial the zero-emission bus.

Its arrival follows the launch of the Government’s new clean air strategy last month, which set out a ban on petrol and diesel cars by 2040 to control pollution levels.

The new electric bus will be trialled by First York for four weeks in the city and join its fleet of 12 electric single-decker buses that operate across its network of six park and ride sites.

Marc Bichtemann, managing director of First York, said: “It’s great to see this kind of technology demonstrated in York - especially in our park and ride service.

“We already have a fleet of 12 electric single-deckers and as we add more vehicles that will have a positive impact on the air quality in York.

“The ultimate aim is to reduce air pollution in and around York.”

Manufactured in Sherburn in Elmet by Optare, two more of the electric double deckers will be put into service in York within one year if the trial is successful, as part of First’s park and ride contract with York Council.

The zero-emission bus can carry up to 99 passengers and has a range of nearly 150 miles from one overnight charge.

Mr Bichtemann urged other authorities to work with public transport operators in Yorkshire’s towns and cities, to introduce similar schemes in a bid to cut emissions.

“The key is working in partnership with local bus operators and the council to help develop services to reduce air pollution,” he said.

“Working together, rather than dictating, to come up with these schemes is very beneficial.”

Environmentalists this month criticised the Government’s clean air strategy amid fears there were no plans to cut emissions for parts of Yorkshire, despite toxic levels of pollution.

Wakefield and Bradford are both predicted to have illegal levels of air pollution until at least 2020, according to the Government’s own figures.

But the latest Air Quality Plan does not require them to take any action to fix this, the environmental charity Friends of the Earth warned.

Leaders from cities across the country including Leeds, Birmingham and Liverpool called on the Government to introduce a Clean Air Act to deliver measures to improve air quality, in an open letter in July.

But the Government said it will provide £255m to councils, to conduct feasibility studies and develop local plans to tackle pollution.

In York, the city’s park and ride fleet of First buses carry in excess of four million passengers every year.

Councillor Ian Gillies, York Council’s executive member for transport, said the introduction of the new fully-electric bus was a landmark moment.

“It’s the time to look at this now given the air pollution at the moment,” he said.

“It’s only a matter of time before the majority of public service vehicles are encouraged to move to electric. This is a big landmark for York and the country.

“We are proud to be leading the way in technology. I think this is the future.”

He said each bus has the capacity to take 99 cars off the roads.

“Pollution in York, while it is reducing, it will reduce even more through this,” Coun Gillies added.

“We want to make all the park and ride fleet all electric if we can.”