BALLYMENA bus-builder Wrightbus has secured another multi-million pound order to deliver 18 zero emission buses for First Bus in Leicester.
It comes on the back of a £25.3 million contract to supply 117 of the battery-electric vehicles for the bus operator across the UK announced at the beginning of March.
First Bus and its local authority partner successfully secured Department for Transport (DfT) approval to boost their existing Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) funding.
The deal is part of the UK Government's strategy to support and decarbonise the public transport sector.
Ian Gillott, managing director (parts and services) at Wrightbus, said: “Our partnership with First Bus is hugely significant in the drive to zero-emission public transport.
“It has been a real team effort between the local authority, Wrightbus and First Bus to deliver this exciting project.
“We can’t wait to see these buses in operation in Leicester, which will help passengers enjoy comfortable and cleaner transport.
“We are consistently at the forefront of zero and low-emission travel and would be delighted to progress future orders, dependent on future co-funding opportunities.
“Our electric buses - the GB Kite Electroliner BEV and the StreetDeck Electroliner BEV, which is the world's most efficient double deck battery-electric bus - are manufactured and assembled at our Ballymena factory, which means support for jobs in Northern Ireland, and wider across the UK through our domestic supply chain.”
