The Scottish government is helping to financially back a new bus industry consortium which will deliver 252 new zero-emission buses and coaches to Scotland’s roads, it’s been announced today.

The £41.7m grant funding will support eight operators, led by electric vehicle (EV) fleet specialist Zenobē, to deliver the buses—alongside a Scotland-wide charging network for use by all buses, coaches, and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs).

The consortium comprises all-electric intercity bus operator Ember, as well as Premier Coaches, McGills Buses, Stagecoach, Hairy Haggis Tours, Maynes Coaches, D&E Coaches, and NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde.

The investment completes the second and final round of subsidy from the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB 2), which brings together businesses from across the bus, energy, and finance sectors, and builds upon the £113 million that the Scottish government has invested in zero-emission buses and supporting infrastructure.

Speaking on the consortium and the funding, the first minister said: “This investment will deliver 100 new inter-city bus routes and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 600,000 tonnes over the lifetime of the fleet by encouraging more people to swap the car for efficient public transport, which is crucial to reaching net zero by 2045.

“Every £1 from the Scottish government will leverage £3.20 of private sector investment – demonstrating that our shared decarbonisation goals can be met by working together when it comes to removing carbon emissions from our bus and coach fleets.

“All bus and coach operators, including those operating in smaller towns and communities, will benefit from both the novel approach to financing and the Scotland-wide charging network that will be delivered, helping other modes of transport make the switch to electric vehicles too.”

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Steven Meersman, co-founder director of Zenobē also commented: “We look forward to delivering an additional 252 vehicles and associated charging infrastructure with our consortium partners – this is on top of our existing 110 vehicles in Scotland and alongside our £750 million commitment to battery energy storage systems in the region.

“The consortium brings together family-owned coach companies, well established bus operators, an innovative electric bus start-up and the NHS, showing how private capital can help public funding go the extra mile.”