First Bus net zero York depot shows environmental impact one year on
- Improvements to air quality at city centre junction
- 5,000 tonnes C02e saved by fleet operations
A year since the First Bus depot in York was confirmed among the first in the country to be net zero-emission, the bus operator says its impact is now really showing in environmental improvements for the city.
Figures released by City of York Council show the electric bus fleet contributed to a 27 per cent reduction in nitrogen dioxide levels around Gillygate and Bootham in 2024. The busy junction area is crossed regularly by a number of First Bus vehicles including city services and the Rawcliffe Bar Park and Ride.
Mick Forbes, Engineering Director of First Bus North & West Yorkshire, said: “The results are very positive and provide real evidence of the environmental benefits we are achieving with our fully zero-emission fleet on the streets of York.
“We are delighted this is recognised in the air quality assessment by City of York Council and will continue to support its efforts to create cleaner air in the city.
“By working together with the council we have been able to invest millions of pounds with government funding support to transform our James Street depot.”
First Bus has a total fleet of 86 all-electric buses operating at the depot. This now saves around 5,000 tonnes of C02e every year.
Reaching the net zero goal has meant going a step beyond eliminating fleet tailpipe emissions (First Bus’s Zero Emission Mission 2035) by accounting for other direct operational emissions associated with the site. This includes the energy used to power the depot and ancillary vehicles.
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About First Bus
First Bus is one of the UK’s largest bus operators, carrying more than 1.5 million passengers every day. Its local bus services serve over 25% of the population of Great Britain and more than half of the UK’s top 15 most populated urban areas.
The company is a leading operator in the majority of its local areas, including major urban centres such as Glasgow, Leeds and Bristol. In London, First Bus operates 83 routes in west and central areas from 10 garages, serving 180 million passengers annually. The combined operation manages a fleet of more than 5,750 buses across the UK.
First Bus is the UK’s largest national bus operator to achieve real Living Wage employer status, reflecting its commitment to putting people and customers at the heart of its operations.
The company is committed to operating a zero-emission bus fleet by 2035 and will have more than 1,500 zero-emission buses in service by the end of 2026.
As part of its investment in zero-emission infrastructure, First Bus is converting depots across the UK to accommodate electric buses. Through First Charge, its commercial electric vehicle charging service, the company opens up this high-powered depot charging infrastructure to other fleet operators as part of one of the UK’s largest networks of ultra-rapid charging superhubs, helping businesses progress their decarbonisation journeys.
First Bus also operates Specialist Passenger Solutions, First Travel Solutions, York Pullman Bus Company, Lakeside, Ensignbus, Anderson Travel, and the Aircoach network and Matthews in Ireland.
First Bus is a division of FirstGroup.
Find more information here: https://news.firstbus.co.uk/