ZEBRA 2 Discussion

[Edvid]

A second tranche of ZEBRA funding for zero emission buses in England (outside of London) has been launched, with £129 million up for local authority bidding across the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years.

Apply for zero emission bus funding (ZEBRA 2)

www.gov.uk

Introduction​

In March 2021, the government published ’Bus Back Better’, its national bus strategy for England, which set out a vision for the future of buses across the country. The strategy set out a roadmap to transition towards a fully zero emission bus fleet. It committed to consulting on an end date for non-zero emission buses and reaffirmed the government’s commitment first made in February 2020 to support 4,000 zero emission buses.

Since then, an estimated 4,200 zero emission buses (ZEBs) have been funded across the United Kingdom, delivering on this commitment. We have also consulted on setting an end date for the sale of non-zero emission buses. Both these actions will support our long-term goal to decarbonise the whole bus fleet.

The Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme (ZEBRA 1) provided funding for 1,300 ZEBs. This scheme supported the rollout of ZEBs, the development of ZEB technology and provided learning on the challenges of introducing ZEBs and their supporting infrastructure.

The ZEBRA 1 scheme demonstrated the importance of local transport authorities (LTAs) having the right knowledge and experience to deliver large ZEB projects and the importance of partnership working between LTAs and bus operators. It also demonstrated the additional challenges faced by rural LTAs seeking to introduce ZEBs, both technological and financial. If we are to decarbonise the whole bus fleet, we must ensure that all LTAs and all bus operators take the first step towards decarbonising buses.

We are now launching ZEBRA 2, which will provide £129 million to support the introduction of ZEBs in financial years 2023 to 2024 and 2024 to 2025. This will be a single-stage funding competition to award funding over both financial years.

£25 million will be initially reserved for proposals to introduce ZEBs in rural areas, recognising the additional challenges this may bring. All applicants will also be able to seek funding for zero emission minibuses that are used on local bus services.

We want to help LTAs and bus operators that have little to no experience with ZEBs benefit from this funding. Therefore, LTAs that did not receive ZEBRA funding will be prioritised over LTAs that did.

For battery electric buses, reflecting the commercial maturity of the technology and evidence from ZEBRA 1, proposals seeking funding for battery electric buses will be required to demonstrate at least low value for money (VfM), as measured through our greener bus tool. This is a key requirement and battery electric proposals assessed to be poor VfM will not receive funding.

Hydrogen fuel cell buses are at an earlier stage of commercial deployment compared to battery electric buses and we know there is more that we need to understand about the technology. We recognise that hydrogen schemes would struggle to meet a low VfM threshold. Therefore, hydrogen fuel cell bus proposals that are assessed to be poor VfM could be funded, provided they offer a genuine learning and innovation opportunity, such as the vehicles will operate on longer distance bus routes in rural areas.

The funding of ZEBs cannot be considered in isolation. Since March 2020, we have provided over £2 billion funding to support bus industry. We want to ensure that funding for ZEBs is aligned with investment to support bus services. Therefore, in line with the principles set out in the NBS, funding will only be awarded to LTAs that have made an enhanced partnership or have begun following the statutory process to decide whether to implement franchising.

 

[Edvid]

Meanwhile, Buses Magazine has published an update on the progress of buses funded through ZEBRA 1, along with mentions of buses funded though other schemes.

In total, the three rounds of ZEBRA so far should help 1,395 1,413 new buses hit the road. Or is it 1,312 1,330 without Milton Keynes and Hertfordshire? Or 40 fewer still with reduced orders at Blackpool and Warrington?

Given such variations, it is perhaps not surprising that when questioned in Parliament, ministers have been a bit vague or evasive on the precise quantity of buses that ZEBRA has funded. The promise of 4,000 zero emission buses in Bus Back Better seems to have transmuted to include some of the purchases achieved by earlier schemes, and on occasion, even Scottish Government-funded projects too.

[...]

What is the real figure? As this is written in August, Buses has managed to track down 1,290 buses, by checking bid documents, media releases and council papers. The results – 123 lower than originally announced – are shown in the table, but with a number of orders still outstanding, it is not a definitive list and quantities may change. Counting the stripes on a ZEBRA award isn't over yet.

[Note: Hertfordshire's ZEBRA money will be used after all; Uno has stepped in following Arriva's withdrawal]

EDIT: At the time of writing, only 858 had been ordered (and fewer still on the roads, of course).

WHEN WILL ZEBRA EARN ITS STRIPES?

How is the rollout of ZEBRA funded buses progressing? DAVID JENKINS...

www.keybuses.com

 

[Edvid]

58 expressions of interest have been submitted by local authorities, 12 of whom received funding from ZEBRA 1. The deadline for full applications is a month away.

I thought Luton Borough Council would be among them with the busway or proposed Butterfield P&R in mind, but I suppose Arriva (who pulled out of two committed schemes in nearby Milton Keynes / Stevenage) didn't want in.

ZEBRA 2 draws many more expressions of interest than first round - routeone

Information from DfT shows that the ZEBRA 2 round for zero-emission buses in England has drawn significant local authority interest.

www.route-one.net

Interest from local transport authorities (LTAs) in the second round of the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme (ZEBRA 2) in England is significantly higher than that for the first part of the fund, information published by the Department for Transport has shown.

58 expressions of interest (EoI) in ZEBRA 2 have been submitted by LTAs, compared to 35 previously. Of those 58 authorities, 12 – including via one joint bid – received funding from the earlier tranche. An EoI is no guarantee of a formal bid to the scheme being made, and no financial commitments were required as part of the process.

Of the £129 million available via ZEBRA 2, the first £25 million is prioritised towards rural LTAs, with a potential extension of that pot to £50 million. The remainder is prioritised for those authorities that received no funding from the first round.
A guide is available for LTAs to ascertain their rural classification, but among EoI submissions made to ZEBRA 2 are those from councils including Cornwall, Cumberland, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, and Westmorland and Furness.

Bids via the rural priority pot must show that any services to benefit predominantly serve communities in areas classified thus. For that stipulation, DfT has clarified that LTAs falling into the mainly rural, largely rural, and urban with significant rural categories will “be considered together and treated equally.”

All ZEBRA 2 funding will be awarded during FY2023/24 and FY2024/25, although allocation is front-loaded, with up to £89 million in the first of those financial years and up to £40 million in the second.

Under a timeline shared by DfT in scheme guidance at the launch of ZEBRA 2, the deadline for all applications to be submitted is 15 December. Decisions will be made in March 2024 and all buses must be ordered by 31 January 2025. Infrastructure is also in scope of funding.

Those local authorities to have submitted an EoI to ZEBRA 2 are:

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
Bournemouth, Christchuch and Poole Council
Brighton and Hove City Council
Buckinghamshire Council
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority*
Central Bedfordshire Council
Cheshire West and Chester Council
City of York Council*
Cornwall Council
Cumberland Council
Derby City Council
Derbyshire County Council
Devon County Council
Dorset Council
East Riding of Yorkshire Council
East Sussex County Council
Essex County Council
Gloucestershire County Council
Greater Manchester Combined Authority*
Hampshire County Council*
Hull City Council
Isle of Wight Council
Lancashire County Council
Leicester City Council*
Leicestershire County Council
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Norfolk County Council*
North Northamptonshire Council
North Somerset Council
North Yorkshire Council*
Nottingham City Council*
Nottinghamshire County Council
Plymouth City Council
Portsmouth City Council*
Reading Borough Council
Somerset Council
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority*
Southampton City Council
Southend-on-Sea City Council
Staffordshire County Council
Stoke-on-Trent City Council
Suffolk County Council
Surrey County Council
Swindon Borough Council
Tees Valley Combined Authority
Telford and Wrekin Council
Torbay Council
Transport for North East
Warwickshire County Council
West Berkshire Council
West Midlands Combined Authority*
West Northamptonshire Council
West of England Mayoral Combined Authority
West Sussex County Council
West Yorkshire Combined Authority*
Westmorland and Furness Council
Wiltshire Council
Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council

[* Local authorities that received funding from ZEBRA 1; for Hampshire County Council, that was via a joint bid led by Portsmouth City Council.]

 

[KX03HZY]

https://twitter.com/KK77470/status/1725488464764797017?t=eNyxEqRnudyXIaefd7gloQ&s=19

Notice in this tweet from the Stagecoach South East commercial director that they are bidding for 28 electric double deckers for Eastbourne in the ZEBRA2 scheme. Looks like this is the basis of the ESCC (East Sussex) EOI mentioned on route-one....

 

[aswilliamsuk]

Another bid is now public - Liverpool City Region, with Stagecoach, are bidding for 58 electric buses. https://www.liverpoolcityregion-ca....w-electric-buses-to-the-liverpool-city-region

Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram is putting the pedal to the floor on his plans to expand the region’s zero emission bus fleet with the addition of almost 60 publicly-owned electric buses.


A bid has been submitted to secure £31m of funding for 58 fully-electric double-deckers, which would join the existing hydrogen buses to bolster the region’s publicly owned, zero emission fleet. The Combined Authority would match-fund with £20m of its own.


The roll out of new green, zero-emission buses is a key part of the Mayor’s plans to revolutionise the city region’s bus network. In October, he took a landmark decision to take back control of the region’s buses after nearly 40 years of deregulation. Franchising will give the region greater control over routes, fares and timetables and the power to ensure that any profit is reinvested back into the network to improve services for passengers.

 

[KX03HZY]

Another bid is now public - Liverpool City Region, with Stagecoach, are bidding for 58 electric buses. https://www.liverpoolcityregion-ca....w-electric-buses-to-the-liverpool-city-region

Publicly-owned ones, no less. Franchising ready! The bid though is for up to 58 EVs.

The baseline is 24 buses which would operate from Gillmoss depot on routes 17 and 19 - and in the event of a scaled up 58-bus bid, also the 14 and 20/21 services.

https://liverpoolcityregion-ca.moderngov.co.uk/documents/g7821/Public reports pack 15th-Dec-2023 13.00 Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.pdf?T=10 - pages 7-38 here.

 

[KX03HZY]

Publicly-owned ones, no less. Franchising ready! The bid though is for up to 58 EVs.

The baseline is 24 buses which would operate from Gillmoss depot on routes 17 and 19 - and in the event of a scaled up 58-bus bid, also the 14 and 20/21 services.

https://liverpoolcityregion-ca.moderngov.co.uk/documents/g7821/Public reports pack 15th-Dec-2023 13.00 Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.pdf?T=10 - pages 7-38 here.

Interesting to see what they buy

 

[KX03HZY]

The bids are coming into public domain thick and fast now the bid deadline on Friday, 15th December has passed

Norfolk is bidding - www.edp24.co.uk/news/23971235.bid-millions-pounds-norfolk-electric-buses/ - will be interesting to see what this bid entails - given how much of First Norwich's city network is electrified, I expect this bid would entail something like the Norwich Park&Ride, Great Yarmouth or King's Lynn services or more rural services

Officers at Norfolk County Council are drawing up an application to bid for a share of a £129m pot of cash which is being made available by the Department for Transport.

The government is making the money available through the second phase of its Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme.

County Hall received almost £15m from the initial phase of that scheme. First buses added £21m to that sum to pay for Norwich to get 70 zero-emission electric buses.

The first of those new buses are already being used by passengers on city routes, with more to follow.

And the Roundtree Way bus depot will become one of the first fully electric bus depots outside of London.

But the council is keen to get more money for more buses from the next phase of the ZEBRA scheme, and was one of almost 60 authorities which, earlier this year, lodged expressions of interest for further cash.

The government has given County Hall the green light to submit an application for more money, which needs to be submitted by Friday, December 15.

The council said it was too early to give further details, but confirmed that talks with a number of bus operators had taken place.

Liverpool City Region's bid is for 24 or 58 electric double deckers to be publicly owned by Merseytravel but operated by Stagecoach Gillmoss, at least in the interim - liverpoolcityregion-ca.moderngov.co.uk/documents/g7821/Public%20reports%20pack%2015th-Dec-2023%2013.00%20Liverpool%20City%20Region%20Combined%20Authority.pdf?T=10

The Combined Authority intends to apply for funding to procure a fleet of electric

buses. The model developed would see assets owned by the Combined Authority

and leased to Stagecoach at a diesel-equivalent market rate to operate until a

franchise contract is in place for the routes identified to take the ZEBs.


The bid proposes that the Combined Authority will provide any shortfall between

any grant funding received from DfT and the cost of fleet, connections and

infrastructure. Stagecoach will fund their own project management costs and will be

responsible for lease payments on fleet and ongoing electricity usage until such

time as services are franchised.


A scalable bid has been drafted for the procurement of up to 58 zero emission

electric double deck buses. It is proposed that these will operate along service 17

and 19 Liverpool-Kirkby which requires a peak vehicle requirement (PVR) of 21

vehicles plus three spares and in the case of a scaled-up bid – also along service

14 Liverpool-Kirkby and service 20/21 Liverpool-Tower Hill/Northwood which

requires a PVR of 31 vehicles plus three spares. These routes are important as

they both serve the city centre and also major trip generators, including the football

stadia, major hospitals and employment sites where they have the potential to

improve the quality of the public transport offer and support the modal shift needed.

The routes also operate along important parts of the Green Bus Route in

development on the 10 bus route from Liverpool-St Helens. The infrastructure

being provided on the most congested approaches to/from the 10 route also directly

benefit the 17 and 19 bus services. Wasteful idling and stop-start conditions from

fossil fuelled vehicles will be obviated, especially in the city centre and main

approaches. All buses will be based out of Gilmoss Bus Depot, located on East

Lancashire Road in Liverpool, which would need an improved grid connection and

depot charging infrastructure installed.


Total vehicle costs based on indicative quotes received from manufacturers would

be £11.1 million for 24 double deck buses or £26.9 million for 58 vehicles. Grid

connection charges based on indicative quotes would be £2.5 million, with a further

£1.8 million required for charging infrastructure at the depot. Based on the funding

assumptions set out – a 24 bus project would require a £9.04 million

contribution from the Combined Authority and a 58 bus project would need £20.8

million. This funding would be funded from the Bus Franchising Transition budget

as match funding for the scheme. Any lease payments received from Stagecoach

would subsequently return to that budget. The funding requirements of ZEBRA 2

dictates that other Government grant cannot be used towards the local contribution

required. Stagecoach’s involvement in the project was secured following a call for

expressions of interest sent out to all bus operators in the City Region and a

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been drawn up between Stagecoach

and the Combined Authority which sets out the terms of engagement with the

project, including a mechanism for the transfer of assets as part of bus franchising

transition.


An alternative approach which would involve Stagecoach procuring the buses and

making the capital investment has been discussed with the operator but is not the

preferred way forward for this bid. This is due to the fact that the approach to

franchising would require the Combined Authority to still purchase the buses from

Stagecoach in the future as part of the fleet strategy. In this case, the Combined

Authority would not have control of the specification of the vehicles such as the

passenger information systems, branding, safety features and accessibility features.

Plymouth/Cornwall's joint bid is for 50 electric double deckers - https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2023-12/Zero-Emission-Bus-Bid-Application.pdf

This project will deliver 50 new double-decker electric buses. The electric buses will displace the current 33 Euro VI type diesel buses and 17 Euro V operating on these routes. Buses will be cascaded through Plymouth and Cornwall to remove any outstanding Euro IV double deck buses and retro fitted (Euro IV to Euro V) double deck buses out of the fleet.

East Sussex appear to be going for 28 electric double decks for Stagecoach Eastbourne - https://x.com/KK77470/status/1725488464764797017?s=20

We’re supporting the #Eastbourne Sustainable & Active Travel Summit today;
@Joelmitchell76
hammering home the point that #BSIP bus priority is critical to our #Zebra2 bid for 28 battery electric double decks. We all need to #BeBrave to make this work!

Derby is bidding for both electric and hydrogen buses for Arriva & Trent Barton - https://www.derby.gov.uk/news/2023/december/zebra-funding-could-pave-the-way-for-greener-buses/

Following discussions with local bus operators both Trent Barton and Arriva have approached the City Council to lead on bids for ZEBRA 2 funding. The scheme being developed by Trent Barton includes the purchase of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to replace the diesel bus fleet on two services:

• The Sixes between Derby, Belper, Ripley and Bakewell The Skylink, including Skylink Derby, Skylink Nottingham and Skylink Express.

The scheme would also include infrastructure for the production and storage of hydrogen at a suitable location in the City. Several locations for the hydrogen infrastructure have been identified that are either in the control of the City Council or the bus operator. The final location will be determined by the detailed analysis to be carried out if the application for funding is successful.

Arriva buses have proposed a scheme to replace diesel buses with electric vehicles on two routes:

• The 1/1A/1C to Alvaston • The 38 to Sinfin The scheme would also include infrastructure for charging the vehicles at the Arriva depot on Ascot Drive in Derby.

Warwickshire is bidding for new electric buses with Stagecoach - https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/local-news/electric-buses-could-hit-streets-28232754

In line with the principles set out in the National Bus Strategy, to be eligible for funding from Round 2 ZEBRA funding, LTAs must have made an Enhanced Partnership (EP) with bus operators. Accordingly, County Council officers engaged with the Warwickshire EP for expressions of the interest regarding working with the County Council in developing a Round 2 ZEBRA bid application. Subsequently, Stagecoach Midlands were the only bus operator to pursue the matter and following discussions with County Council officers, it was provisionally agreed that the proposed Warwickshire bid application focus on seeking a funding contribution towards securing provision of all-electric specification buses on the bus services outlined in Table 1 of this report below:

Table 1: Provisional List of Bus Services to Feature in the Proposed Round 2 – ZEBRA Bid (Warwickshire) Service Route Description Basis of Operation Warwickshire County Council Element: Stratford Park and Ride Bishopton Park and Ride - Stratford-uponAvon Railway Station - Stratford-upon-Avon Town Centre Subsidised under Contract to the County Council Forthcoming Leamington and Warwick Park and Ride The Former Asps Site – Warwick Town Centre The Former Asps Site – Leamington Town Centre - The Former Asps Site - Lighthorne Heath - Wellesbourne - Stratford-upon-Avon To be Subsidised under Contract to the County Council from 2025-26 Stagecoach Midlands Element: 4 Brownsover - Elliotts Field Retail Park - Rugby Rail Station - Rugby Town Centre - Bilton - Admirals Estate - Cawston Grange 5/5A Nuneaton Town Centre - Chapel End - Camp Hill - Nuneaton Town Centre 9 Nuneaton Town Centre – Stockingford – Nuneaton Town Centre 10 Nuneaton Town Centre – Stockingford – Grove Farm 48A Nuneaton - Hartshill - Mancetter - Atherstone (extending to Grendon - Dordon - Polesworth - Tamworth on Sundays and Bank Holidays only) Commercial (Mon – Sat) Sunday and Bank Holiday Service Subsidised under Contract to the County Council 3.5 3.6 3.7


County Council officers put forward the Park and Ride schemes for inclusion in the proposed Round 2 ZEBRA fund bid as they deliver a prominent level of modal shift from private car onto public transport, which contributes towards reducing congestion and pollution in town centres. Stagecoach Midlands are minded that proposed all-electric bus provision and supporting infrastructure on their designated commercial services would build on the Coventry All-Electric Bus City Scheme, e.g., ensure that part of the North Warwickshire Borough area is served by all-electric buses via Service 48A, in acknowledgement that the original Service 48 route (Coventry – Bedworth - Nuneaton – Hartshill – Mancetter - Atherstone) now terminates in Nuneaton. Consequently, passengers travelling from North Warwickshire now need to change buses in Nuneaton for onward journeys to Coventry and vice-versa.

I'm also aware of a couple of other bids, including a joint one, which aren't yet public domain but will become so soon.

 

[Park47515]

Brighton and Hove has also put a bid in for Electrics for the 7 "Voting to support a bid to the Government’s ZEBRA 2 fund for investment in new zero emissions buses and charging infrastructure"
https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/news/2023/parking-changes-and-safer-roads-committee-round

 

[KX03HZY]

Councils and bus operators join forces to demonstrate electric buses - Hull CC News

Hull City Council, in partnership with East Riding of Yorkshire Council and the region’s two main bus operators, East Yorkshire Buses and Stagecoach, will be holding two public engagement events on Wednesday 29 November 2023...

news.hull.gov.uk

Hull City Council and East Riding councils are doing a joint bid with East Yorkshire & Stagecoach for new electric buses in and around Hull

Hull City Council, in partnership with East Riding of Yorkshire Council, will jointly bid for funds to replace existing diesel buses on public routes operated by Stagecoach and East Yorkshire Buses in Hull and East Yorkshire. This bid would have a wider impact by transforming how the public see buses and helping to encourage significant increases in passenger demand.

There are currently no electric or hybrid buses operating on public bus services either in Hull or East Yorkshire, so the demonstrator bus will give the public an understanding and insight into the transition of buses from diesel to more environmentally friendly technology to meet future net zero standards.

 

[820KDV]

Wiltshire Council and Go South Coast (Salisbury Reds) went public with their bid today https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/news/w...-in-partnership-to-bid-for-new-electric-buses

Wiltshire Council and Salisbury Reds work in partnership to bid for new electric buses
Wiltshire Council and Salisbury Reds have submitted a bid to the Department for Transport (DfT) for 23 new zero-emission electric buses in the city.

Published 20 December 2023
If the bid is successful, it would total an £11.4m investment into Salisbury transport network, with funding coming from Salisbury Reds, DfT and Wiltshire Council. This would include the 23 buses, plus the required investment into electric charging infrastructure at Salisbury Reds' depot in the city.

The funding is part of the next phase of DfT's ZEBRA (Zero Emission Bus Regional Area) scheme, and would be used to supply new electric buses on most of the city routes and to surrounding local areas, including the services to and from Stonehenge and the city's Park and Ride sites.

Cllr Caroline Thomas, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: If successful, this ZEBRA bid will see most of Salisbury's city network of buses changed to electric, which would not only bring new, state-of-the-art buses and reduce carbon emissions, but also improve air quality in the city.

We have committed to improving our bus network, reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality in our Business Plan, and if successful, this bid will bring these benefits and more, transforming the city's transport network.

Working together, our officers and Salisbury Reds have compiled a strong bid for this funding, and we look forward to hearing the outcome in spring 2024.

Andrew Wickham, Salisbury Reds Managing Director, said: I'm delighted to have been working with Wiltshire Council, once again, to bid for funding that will give Salisbury a brand new fleet of electric vehicles.

Buses are an excellent solution for improving air quality and reducing congestion, because they give people the option to leave their cars at home and use sustainable transport instead.

This joint bid gives us a wonderful opportunity to take greener transport in Salisbury a massive step even further - with the exciting prospect of 23 more electric buses here. This also ties in perfectly with our parent company the Go-Ahead Group's Climate Change Strategy - which has an overarching target to become a net zero carbon business by 2045.

We know just how important it is to improve air quality across the city - and we are thrilled to be right at the forefront of transforming public transport for those living in, working in and visiting Salisbury.

 

[aswilliamsuk]

Wiltshire Council and Go South Coast (Salisbury Reds) went public with their bid today https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/news/w...-in-partnership-to-bid-for-new-electric-buses

I would presume that this means all of the city services (Rx and PRx) and the Stonehenge Tour. I can't imagine 23 vehicles stretch much further - the interworking across the city routes is complex, as far as I can tell...

 

[KX03HZY]

BID SUBMITTED TO FUND NEW FLEET OF 22 ELECTRIC BUSES FOR THE ISLE OF WIGHT

Southern Vectis and the Isle of Wight Council have submitted a bid for funding that could see 22 brand new, zero-emission buses arrive on the Island in 2026 to operate between Newport, East Cowes, Cowes and Ryde. The funding, part of the next phase of the Department for Transport’s ZEBRA (Zero...

www.islandecho.co.uk

Isle of Wight Council and Go South Coast are submitting a ZEBRA2 bid for Vectis routes 1, 5 and 9

There would be 22 electric double and single decks, with the first arriving in February 2026 if the bid is successful.

Southern Vectis and the Isle of Wight Council have submitted a bid for funding that could see 22 brand new, zero-emission buses arrive on the Island in 2026 to operate between Newport, East Cowes, Cowes and Ryde.

The funding, part of the next phase of the Department for Transport’s ZEBRA (Zero Emission Bus Regional Area) scheme, would be used to revolutionise the operator’s Routes 1, 5 and 9.

If the bid is successful, the funding awarded will be added to investment already ring-fenced by Southern Vectis and Isle of Wight Council resulting in a total of £12.7million. This will secure 22 new, all-electric single and double decker buses – complete with tap on, tap off technology for contactless payments, USB charging points for all seats, and next stop audio and visual announcements. They will also have a fully accessible wheelchair ramp, audio loops, dementia-friendly internal colour schemes and CCTV for added security.

The funding will also enable the bus operator’s Newport depot to be upgraded with charging infrastructure. The move will see a significant reduction in the Isle of Wight’s overall carbon emissions and improve air quality.

 

[aswilliamsuk]

Not a lot of detail yet, but the North Yorkshire bid is for Scarborough.

Decision - Application to Department for Transport Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA 2) Scheme | North Yorkshire Council

Information relating to decision making in the council

edemocracy.northyorks.gov.uk

 

[KX03HZY]

Not a lot of detail yet, but the North Yorkshire bid is for Scarborough.

Decision - Application to Department for Transport Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA 2) Scheme | North Yorkshire Council

Information relating to decision making in the council

edemocracy.northyorks.gov.uk

Issue - items at meetings - Application to Department for Transport Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA 2) Scheme | North Yorkshire Council

Information relating to decision making in the council

edemocracy.northyorks.gov.uk

Would be for East Yorkshire Buses town services, and replace 15 diesel buses - so likely to be circa 15 new electric buses. They are planning a new electric-ready depot after all...

 

[Eyersey468]

BID SUBMITTED TO FUND NEW FLEET OF 22 ELECTRIC BUSES FOR THE ISLE OF WIGHT

Southern Vectis and the Isle of Wight Council have submitted a bid for funding that could see 22 brand new, zero-emission buses arrive on the Island in 2026 to operate between Newport, East Cowes, Cowes and Ryde. The funding, part of the next phase of the Department for Transport’s ZEBRA (Zero...

www.islandecho.co.uk

Isle of Wight Council and Go South Coast are submitting a ZEBRA2 bid for Vectis routes 1, 5 and 9

There would be 22 electric double and single decks, with the first arriving in February 2026 if the bid is successful.

Must admit I'm surprised they are talking about putting them on route 1 when that has only just got new buses

 

[KX03HZY]

Must admit I'm surprised they are talking about putting them on route 1 when that has only just got new buses

Can't say I am, I would assume it is one of their more profitable services and presumably assessed as practical to electrify. So seems sensible to allocate new buses, EVs at that (if ZEBRA2 bid works out) to that route and then displace 2.5/3 year old Euro6 diesel buses to another route that either isn't quite as profitable and or not yet practical for electrification.

 

[aswilliamsuk]

Here's the next one (and another from Go South Coast): 10 electric 'deckers for the 40 and 50 at Swanage.

Plans for fleet of electric buses to serve Dorset routes

Bus operators in Swanage are hoping to add 10 electric double decker buses to their fleet

www.dorsetecho.co.uk

 

[KX03HZY]

Lancashire has teamed up with Rotala/Preston Bus and Stagecoach for a ZEBRA2 bid, reportedly for up to 70 vehicles.

www.lep.co.uk/news/transport/cleaner-and-quieter-bus-journeys-could-be-on-the-cards-for-preston-and-leyland-as-part-of-electric-vehicle-plan-4468601

Lancashire County Council has made a pitch for £15.7m of government cash on behalf of two operators – Preston Bus and Stagecoach – to help bring electric buses to at least half a dozen services.

If the money is sent Lancashire’s way, electric buses would begin to glide out of Preston Bus depots – primarily on the number 19 service from the city centre to the Royal Preston Hospital and the 35 between the bus station and Tanterton.

Elsewhere, the Stagecoach services 1, 3 and 111 – between Preston and Longridge, Penwortham and Leyland respectively – would also go electric.

Meanwhile, electric vehicles would take to the nine-mile route between Lancaster University and Heysham, via Lancaster city centre and Morecambe.

 

[aswilliamsuk]

Suffolk County Council have teamed up with both First and Go-Ahead - to bid for a fairly significant number of vehicles.

First routes covered (basically the entire Lowestoft allocation, it appears) are 99, 101/102/105/106/109 and X2, X21, X22.
Go-Ahead routes covered (basically the entire Chambers allocation) are 373/374, 750/751/753, 707, 716, 84/754/784, 757/758

https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/asset-library/suffolk-zebra-2-application-form-redacted.pdf

 

[KX03HZY]

Suffolk County Council have teamed up with both First and Go-Ahead - to bid for a fairly significant number of vehicles.

First routes covered (basically the entire Lowestoft allocation, it appears) are 99, 101/102/105/106/109 and X2, X21, X22.
Go-Ahead routes covered (basically the entire Chambers allocation) are 373/374, 750/751/753, 707, 716, 84/754/784, 757/758

https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/asset-library/suffolk-zebra-2-application-form-redacted.pdf

Interesting. First substantive investment for new buses for Go East Anglia in about 10 years if it follows through. And some very significant investment for Lowestoft too.

It's for 38 vehicles - replacing 12 EURO III and 26 EURO VI models.

 

[KX03HZY]

Suffolk County Council have teamed up with both First and Go-Ahead - to bid for a fairly significant number of vehicles.

First routes covered (basically the entire Lowestoft allocation, it appears) are 99, 101/102/105/106/109 and X2, X21, X22.
Go-Ahead routes covered (basically the entire Chambers allocation) are 373/374, 750/751/753, 707, 716, 84/754/784, 757/758

https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/asset-library/suffolk-zebra-2-application-form-redacted.pdf

Presumably that would mean more Electroliners specified

 

[KX03HZY]

City of York Council has teamed up with Transdev to bid for 24 new-generation Enviro100/200/400 electric buses including for the CitySightseeing services

www.itravelyork.info/downloads/file/95/zero-emission-bus-regional-areas-2-application-form

City of York Council (CYC) is partnering with Transdev to electrify their commercial City Sightseeing tour buses and all their urban tendered services. The project area is the city of York bounded by the outer ring road (A64/A1237) plus the villages of Haxby and Wigginton immediately to the north.

Bus Routes
City Sightseeing operate a commercial hop on/hop off circular route around the city centre - see Annex 1. Five or six vehicles operate the route depending on the time of year.

The current Transdev “York & Country” tendered services are:

- 14 Foxwood - City - Haxby
- 19 Skelton - Burton Stone Lane - City (Saturday)
- 20 Rawcliffe - Clifton Moor - Monks Cross - Heworth/Osbaldwick
- 24 Acomb - City
- 25 Fulford - City - Foss Islands - Derwenthorpe
- 26 Fulford - City - South Bank

Transdev’s preferred ZEBs from Alexander Dennis (ADL) are built locally in Yorkshire and provide the most suitable solution for our routes. Both the Enviro100 and Enviro200 ZEBs are brand new to the market with Transdev aiming to be the first customer for the Enviro200 in 2025. The buses feature a high specification including wireless charging, reading lights, recycling bins and the latest audio visual systems.

For the Citysightseeing operation Transdev intend to be the first customer of the Enviro400 Open top from ADL. These vehicles will be specified to sightseeing specification with a multilingual system and meet the enhanced accessibility standard with 2 wheelchair spaces.

 

[KX03HZY]

City of York Council has teamed up with Transdev to bid for 24 new-generation Enviro100/200/400 electric buses including for the CitySightseeing services

www.itravelyork.info/downloads/file/95/zero-emission-bus-regional-areas-2-application-form

Interesting that ZEBRA2 money can be used for sightseeing services like CSS

 

[KX03HZY]

Two more bids I've found:
documents.hants.gov.uk/transport-fundingbids/ZEBRA2-ApplicationForm.pdf

Hampshire County Council has teamed up with Stagecoach to bid for 68 new electric buses for Basingstoke and Portsmouth - 57 single decks and 11 double decks - the vehicle options reading through the (redacted) lines appear to be integral ADL Enviros and Volvo BZLs based on the mentioned specifications

4.2 In no more than 750 words applicants should provide information on the

project area.
The project area covered by this ZEBRA bid is two distinct Stagecoach local bus

operating areas. The first location is the Portsmouth and South East Hampshire area

near to the Solent. This covers 3 high frequency interurban bus corridors radiating

out from the city of Portsmouth to connect it with the towns of Havant, Waterlooville,

Emsworth and Chichester and the Hoverbus service providing multi-modal

connections between Portsmouth city centre and Southsea hovercraft terminal. The

second operating area is the town of Basingstoke in the north of Hampshire. The 10

bus routes in these two operating areas that would see ZEB deployment are

summarised in the sections below

Portsmouth and South East Hampshire and Chichester operating area
The Portsmouth and South East Hampshire area has a population of nearly 500,000.

The island and peninsula geography of the area focusses traffic onto a very limited

number of radial routes. The city of Portsmouth is the most densely populated part of

the South East outside of London. Currently 41,500 people a day commute into the

city from the wider area, using the limited number of radial routes. Within the

Portsmouth, since 2009, the number of bus passenger journeys has been relatively

unchanged, varying between 10 million and 11.6 million bus passenger journeys per

year. Portsmouth residents make 42 bus passenger journeys per head of population.

Portsmouth city centre has an Air Quality Management area.

The 4 bus routes where the 42 ZEBs will operate in Portsmouth and SE

Hampshire/ W Sussex

• 23 - Leigh Park – Southsea (22 single deckers)

• 39 - Wecock Farm – Havant (8 single deckers)

• 700 - Chichester – Portsmouth (11 double deckers)

• Hoverbus - City centre - Southsea Hoverport (1 single decker)

The local Stagecoach bus fleet is based at a light industrial estate on Walton Road,

Farlington, close to the A2030 Eastern Road, just north of the A27 Havant Bypass.

The 42 ZEBs for these services will be based at the existing depot site. The depot is

fully owned by Stagecoach and the power supply will come from a nearby substation.

Stagecoach’s Portsmouth (Farlington) depot is located at Walton Road, Farlington,

Portsmouth PO6 1TU, and will be the location of where infrastructure will be

deployed for charging the vehicles.


Basingstoke operating area

Basingstoke is a large town in North Hampshire with a population of 113,190 that has

seen very rapid expansion and growth in recent decades, with further growth

planned. Being a ‘new town’ its’ growth has been planned based around high

capacity road systems and extensive parking provision, both within the town centre

and in business parks and industrial areas. Whilst this has helped to support

economic growth in Basingstoke and enabled the town to avoid the severity of many

traffic problems experienced by neighbouring towns it has also encouraged car use

over other forms of travel as car access is both relatively cheap and convenient. In

2011, 67% of residents use a car for journeys to work (70-75% in outer urban areas)

and 5% of residents used the bus for journeys to work. New developments over

recent years have been built on the edge of the town and as a result are more

challenging to serve by bus. People living in these areas are more likely to continue

to rely on car use unless there is significant investment in alternative sustainable

transport modes. The majority of local bus services in Basingstoke and the

surrounding areas are operated by Stagecoach.

The 6 Bus routes where the 26 ZEBs will operate services within Basingstoke

• 1 - Town Centre - Brighton Hill (4 single deckers)
• 2 - Basingstoke – Baughurst/Tadley (8 single deckers)

• 3 - Town Centre - South Ham (2 single deckers)

• 5 - Town Centre - West Popley (2 single deckers)

• 6 - Winklebury - East Popley (6 single deckers)

• 8 – Town Centre – Hatch Warren & Beggarwood (4 single deckers)

The Stagecoach bus depot for Basingstoke is located in Rankine Road in a light

industrial estate to the north-east of the town centre. The depot is fully owned by

Stagecoach and the power supply will come from a nearby substation.

Stagecoach’s depot in Basingstoke is located at Rankine Rd, Basingstoke RG24 8PR,

and this is where the location of where infrastructure will be deployed for charging

the vehicles.

Rationale for chosen procurement approach:
There will be three separate tender projects for the depot to meet the ZEBRA
requirements. These are:

1. Procurement of 68 New Battery Electric Buses (which will be 11 double deck

and 57 single deck buses);

2. Procurement of Electrical Charging Equipment – 34 DC smart chargers (120-

150kw) to better enable fast electric charge;

3. Procurement of power supplies and associated civils works – through codevelopment with DNO provider (SSE) to minimise DNO risk.

www.transportnortheast.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/zebra2-application-form-TNE-Public-Redacted-WEB.pdf
Transport for North East has teamed up with Arriva, Go North East and Stagecoach to bid for 43 electric buses

14 double deck EVs for Arriva Durham routes 48, 64 and X46 based at Belmont depot
7 double deck and 4 single deck EVs for Go North East Gateshead routes 58 and X66 based at Riverside depot
18 single deck EVs for Stagecoach Newcastle 30/31/36 based at Slatyford depot

 

[jimbob185]

Looks like the Hull City Council with East Riding of Yorkshire bid is 40 EVs between Stagecoach and East Yorkshire Buses

https://x.com/realbengilligan/status/1747715469065470287?s=20

More recently, we have worked to develop a bid to bring 40 EVs between the 2 operators to the City

 

[KX03HZY]

https://twitter.com/skmpub/status/1749422285897748680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1749422285897748680%7Ctwgr%5E0b0c928eb52a9adf4d38d3d9091cffd0bb9d35ef%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftangytango.proboards.com%2Fuser%2F3625%2Frecent

Steven Knight Media has reported on a few more bids, namely involving Stagecoach, that haven't yet been posted here

South Yorkshire Combined Authority

65 double deck EVs for Ecclesfield & Holbrook on Sheffield City services

Derbyshire County Council

57 midi, single and double deck EVs for most Chesterfield town services and cross-border routes into Sheffield

Northampton

51 EVs for Northampton

North Northamptonshire Council - 14 double deck EVs for route X4 (& 17A on sundays and evenings) - http://redirect.viglink.com/?key=71...cms.northnorthants.gov.uk/media/8343/download

14 Enviro400EVs (priced at £494,521 each) are the preferred option with the Volvo BZLs being the back-up option (priced at £480,228 each)

And some more detail on the previously mentioned East Sussex/Eastbourne bid - https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/media/a04f31jp/escc-zebra-2-application-form-redacted.pdf

28 Enviro400EVs are the preferred option (Volvo BZLs back-up) for routes 1/1A and 99

 

[Hyebone]

https://twitter.com/skmpub/status/1749422285897748680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1749422285897748680%7Ctwgr%5E0b0c928eb52a9adf4d38d3d9091cffd0bb9d35ef%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftangytango.proboards.com%2Fuser%2F3625%2Frecent

Steven Knight Media has reported on a few more bids, namely involving Stagecoach, that haven't yet been posted here

South Yorkshire Combined Authority


Derbyshire County Council

Northampton

North Northamptonshire Council - 14 double deck EVs for route X4 (& 17A on sundays and evenings) - http://redirect.viglink.com/?key=71fe2139a887ad501313cd8cce3053c5&subId=431515&u=https://cms.northnorthants.gov.uk/media/8343/download


And some more detail on the previously mentioned East Sussex/Eastbourne bid - https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/media/a04f31jp/escc-zebra-2-application-form-redacted.pdf

I'm interested to see what becomes of the Chesterfield bid, in all honestly I can see it falling flat on its face.

The X17 route seems too long to be considered for EVs just yet, (Spanning from Wirksworth all the way up to Barnsley).

Workings for 43/44/50 routes include the local 25 and 51 and the Sheffield local 43a, with one working including an X17 run down to Matlock and back from Chesterfield via Slack; which if the Hybrids are anything to go off, they'll fly up the hills.

 

[Edvid]

A month or so out from the ZEBRA 2 awards, here's the latest on ZEBRA 1 implementation as published on Hansard yesterday:

Question​

Simon Lightwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many zero emission buses had been allocated Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas funding as of 6 February 2024; and how many of those buses (a) have been ordered and (b) are on the road as of that date.

Answer​

Guy Opperman

Answered on
19 February 2024

The following table presents information on the number of zero emission buses funded through the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas 1 (ZEBRA 1) programme by local transport authority. The numbers in this table are not official statistics: they are based on the latest information available and are therefore indicative and subject to change.
ZEBRA 1 funding was awarded in March 2022 for local transport authorities except Oxfordshire who received funding in December 2022.

Local Transport Authority	Number of buses funded	Number of buses ordered	Number of buses in service
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority	30	30	30
Kent County Council	33	33	0
Leicester City Council	116	116	74
Warrington Borough Council	105	105	0
South Yorkshire Combined Authority	27	27	0
Norfolk County Council	70	70	26
North Yorkshire County Council	39	39	0
Portsmouth City Council & Hampshire County Council	62	62	0
Blackpool Council	90	0	0
Nottingham City Council	68	48	0
Greater Manchester Combined Authority	170	170	0
Hertfordshire County Council	27	0	0
West Midlands Combined Authority	124	0	0
City of York Council	53	53	27
West Yorkshire Combined Authority	136	119	0
Oxfordshire County Council	159	159	9
	1,309	1,031	166

Of the 1,309 buses funded (revised down from 1,413 for various reasons), 278 are still yet to be ordered; most of these are from the West Midlands and Blackpool bids.

Those already out on the road may even be outnumbered by equivalents funded by other non-London English schemes* (mostly in Coventry and Greater Manchester) for the time being.

[* Listed on pages 11 and 12 of the May 2023 letter from Mark Harper to Iain Stewart]

 

[507021]

A month or so out from the ZEBRA 2 awards, here's the latest on ZEBRA 1 implementation as published on Hansard yesterday:



Of the 1,309 buses funded (revised down from 1,413 for various reasons), 278 are still yet to be ordered; most of these are from the West Midlands and Blackpool bids.

Those already out on the road may even be outnumbered by equivalents funded by other non-London English schemes* (mostly in Coventry and Greater Manchester) for the time being.

[* Listed on pages 11 and 12 of the May 2023 letter from Mark Harper to Iain Stewart]

Is there a reason why Blackpool still hasn't placed an order nearly two years after their award?