Ambitious bid aims to create electric bus fleet for Harrogate

North Yorkshire County Council has said that its plan convert an entire Harrogate bus fleet to electric vehicles has taken a step forward, with the authority bidding for £8 million of funding for the project.

The council is working with The Harrogate Bus Company, part of Transdev, on a scheme that – if the funding bid succeeds – would see 39 zero-emission buses delivered in Harrogate over the next three years.

In total, the project would cost almost £20 million, with £11.5 million being invested by Transdev. A total of 20 single-decker and 19 double-decker buses would be bought and the supporting charging infrastructure put in place.

Don Mackenzie, Executive Member for Access, said: “We’re near the start of a competitive process and success is not guaranteed, but this action illustrates the scale of our ambition and commitment and, if successful, could provide a blueprint for other areas of North Yorkshire.

“This project aligns with the decarbonisation ambitions we share with partners across the region to protect the environment and counter climate change. It would accelerate improvements in air quality, as zero emission vehicles produce no tail pipe emissions, bringing health benefits to residents and visitors. The quieter electric buses would also reduce noise pollution.”