Council invests £3.4m in electric bus expansion

A council is investing £3.4m in a major expansion of zero-emission bus services.

The funding from Hampshire County Council will go towards upgrading charging and power infrastructure at Stagecoach's Farlington depot in Portsmouth to support up to 77 new electric buses.

Stagecoach said the region was at the beginning of a "long-term transformation" of its services.

The work, which builds on electrification in the wider region, will include new electrical systems, improved grid capacity and additional depot charging points needed to support a larger electric fleet.

Once in service, the new buses are expected to run across routes linking Portsmouth with Havant, Hayling Island, Waterlooville and Petersfield, expanding zero-emission travel options across south-east Hampshire.

Councillor Steve Forster, cabinet member for passenger transport, said the investment would speed up the move to "cleaner, zero-emission travel across Hampshire".

"It's all part of our wider aim to make bus journeys more appealing - with services that are faster, more frequent and more reliable - while also cutting congestion and improving air quality for our communities," he said.

Marc Reddy, managing director of Stagecoach South, added: "This is about delivering a cleaner, quieter and more accessible bus network for the communities we serve, built on strong collaboration with local authorities, industry partners and local communities."

Meanwhile, 11 electric buses are planned for the 700 service between Portsmouth and Chichester, supported by funding from West Sussex County Council.