The Yorkshire Post Says: Historic city of York taking Yorkshire into the future with electric transport revolution

The first UK city outside of London to trial this futuristic service, its significance should not be under-estimated after the Government announced plans to abolish petrol and diesel-powered vehicles from 2040 onwards.

Like most major conurbations, pollution levels in York – and therefore the health of its citizens and visitors alike – are affected by slow-moving traffic because the Roman city’s road network was not built for the volume of traffic that exists today. It can’t be altered without ruining the fabric of this iconic tourist destination.

Yet the launch of Metrodecker EV, a collaboration between City of York Council, bus operator First York and the vehicle’s manufacturer Optare – is a chance to see if green technology is both cost-effective and provides passengers with the reliability that they expect.

Though it is just one bus, there’s a huge opportunity for the Government here. Having signalled its intentions and, for once, shown some ambition in spite of concerns about the county’s ability to generate sufficient electricity, Ministers should looking to subsidise the cost of running such services so the travelling public.

If they do so, and demand for new buses exceeds supply, it will make it much easier for the Government to make the case for more environmentally friendly vehicles, whether it be buses, lorries or cars, being introduced to the roads sooner rather than later.