The government has announced up to £120 million to roll out zero emission buses across England, helping us to deliver net zero by 2050 and improving air quality across our towns and cities as we build back greener from the pandemic.
Up to £120 million is being made available through the zero-emission-buses regional area (ZEBRA) scheme, which will allow local transport authorities to bid for funding to purchase zero-emission buses, reduce the carbon emissions from their local public transport and improve air quality in towns and cities across England
The funding will deliver up to 500 zero-emission buses, supporting the government’s wider commitment to introduce 4,000 zero-emission buses and supports local authorities to reduce carbon emissions from their local public transport.
The funding comes from the wider £3 billion fund announced by the government to improve bus services in our national bus strategy published on 15 March.
Richard Fuller, MP for North East Bedfordshire, said:
The launch of this scheme means we are supporting local authorities to reduce carbon emissions from their local public transport and brings us another step forward to achieving our net-zero ambitions and improving air quality in towns and cities across the country.
The government is calling on consortia of local transport authorities, energy companies, bus operators and manufacturers to come together to work up strong cases for funding to help provide British bus manufacturers with an injection of orders. This will help make sure that buses are built, bought and being driven on our roads efficiently to the benefit of local economies and communities.
Bidders will have until 21 May 2021 to submit expressions of interest for a fast-track process that will allow local transport authorities with well-developed proposals to move quickly in their bid to secure funding.
