Press Releases

Solent from First Bus has introduced four newly converted electric buses into service in Portsmouth, Fareham and Gosport

The ‘repowered’ diesel vehicles have been fully refurbished to a near-new standard and converted to electric power, delivering more environmentally friendly travel for passengers.

The news comes one year after the electrification of First Bus’s Hoeford depot in Fareham, and the successful introduction of 62 new electric buses to Portsmouth, Fareham and Gosport, in partnership with Portsmouth City Council and Hampshire County Council*.

The repowered buses will run on routes across Portsmouth, Fareham and Gosport, including the University routes in Portsmouth.

The transformation of these buses represents a significant step in reducing carbon emissions. By repurposing existing diesel vehicles, First Bus is extending their lifespan while avoiding the environmental impact associated with disposing of old ones.

The innovative conversion process, undertaken by UK bus manufacturer Wrightbus, takes out the diesel engine and fully replaces it to make it electric, in a fraction of the time and the cost of manufacturing an electric bus.

This process significantly reduces carbon emissions, helping to combat climate change and making it a highly sustainable solution for fleet renewal.

The newly converted electric buses bring all the benefits of new electric vehicles, including zero tailpipe emissions. They will contribute to improved air quality, reducing harmful pollutants that can negatively impact respiratory health.

Gary Weaver, First Bus South’s Engineering Director, said: “We are proud to introduce these four converted electric buses to Portsmouth, Fareham and Gosport. This initiative not only provides a second life for existing vehicles but also delivers a low-carbon, sustainable transport option that benefits both passengers and the wider community.

“At First Bus, we are committed to leading the way in the transition to greener public transport, and this project is another example of how we are making that happen.”

Cllr Peter Candlish, Portsmouth City Council's Cabinet Member for Transport said:  "The success of electric buses in Portsmouth has already shown how quieter, cleaner, and greener travel benefits our city. Cost-effectively re-powering these buses from diesel to electric is a smart way to bring forward another step in our commitment to deliver affordable, sustainable, and zero-emission transport for everyone."

The introduction of these vehicles is part of First Bus’s wider strategy to transition to a fully zero-emission fleet by 2035. Across the business, it is initially introducing 32 repowers across four regions of the UK.

• First Bus’ Hoeford depot in Fareham provided electric charging for Renault Trucks’ electric HGV
• Renault Trucks’ eHGV ‘The Good Truck’ Roadshow is travelling across Europe to show the range of electric road freight vehicles and availability of charging infrastructure

• The first bus depot in the UK to offer electric charging to the public is now open
• Purpose built hub in Cornwall offers fast charging for a family car in 30 minutes
• £1m investment from First Bus to provide the local area with charging infrastructure

• First Bus have purchased the old Daily Mail processing centre in Portsmouth.
• The new site will become a purpose built all-electric site fit to host their new electric bus fleet of the future.
• The new depot will take up to 2-3 years to build and represents a significant investment and future commitment to bus services in Portsmouth.
• First Bus will be launching 62 brand-new all-electric buses from April 2024 from its existing Hoeford depot site.

• First Bus’ Leicester depot will join York and Norwich to become one of the UK’s first three fully electrified bus depots outside of London 
• The ‘bus depot of the future’ sets a precedent for UK-wide road transport decarbonisation  
• First Bus Leicester will have 86 new electric buses expected on public roads by March 2024 

• This brings the total investment across all ZEBRA projects that First Bus is delivering to £92m, alongside ZEBRA funding of £66m.  

• Operating at Milton Park business, science and technology park in Oxfordshire
• Electric 15-seater autonomous bus accessible to wheelchairs and pushchairs
• Ground-breaking technology in vehicle movement and world-first travel planning