Transport Minister Norman Baker has announced additional funding has been added to the government’s scheme to invest in lower-carbon buses. Manchester, Oxfordshire, York and Sunderland will see the introduction of new electric, hybrid and biomethane gas-powered buses, while other authorities will receive grants to retrofit existing vehicles with emissions-reducing technology.

2 October 2013 – Speaking at industry event Coach and Bus Live today (2 October 2013) Transport Minister Norman Baker announced additional money will be made available to bring 55 more low carbon buses into service and to retro-fit dozens more to clean up their exhaust fumes.

The work will build on the success of the government’s Green Bus Fund and related Clean Bus Technology Fund.

Norman Baker said: “This money will improve air quality in towns and cities across England and cut carbon, which is good for all of us wherever we live.

“Schemes like these are a cost-effective way of landing real benefits for the public and the environment. Cleaner, more efficient bus services are good for the economy and for the environment – it’s a win-win.”

The new funding will see £2.4million ploughed into further funding for low carbon buses allowing bus companies and local authorities in Manchester, Oxfordshire, York and Sunderland to buy electric, hybrid and biomethane gas-powered buses.

The Clean Bus Technology Fund will allocate additional grants to local authorities totalling over £1million pounds to modify local buses to reduce emissions of harmful pollutants and improve air quality on congested roads in parts of Kent, South Yorkshire, the West Midlands, Buckinghamshire and York.

The following towns, cities, districts and counties will benefit from the new funding announced today (2 October 2013):

- Manchester – 23 new green buses

- Sunderland – 23 new green buses

- York – seven new green buses and a pilot scheme to convert a diesel bus to electric propulsion

- Oxfordshire – 2 new buses

- Sheffield – conversion of 5 buses to run on natural gas

- West Midlands – 29 buses with exhaust gas treatment

- Chiltern District – 5 buses with exhaust gas treatment

- Swale Borough – 5 buses with exhaust gas treatment

In May the department announced £12million for the fourth round of the Green Bus Fund and in June a further £5million was allocated to the Clean Bus Technology Fund.

For further information, please visit www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport