A fleet of electric buses in Glasgow has been temporarily taken out of service due to a technical issue, impacting the city’s efforts to reduce emissions. Passengers have noticed the replacement of these electric vehicles with diesel buses.
30 Electric Buses Pulled from Service
First Bus has announced that 30 of its electric buses in Glasgow have been withdrawn after facing technical failures. This issue was first raised in December, and the affected buses are being replaced by ultra-low emission diesel buses from across the UK.
These electric buses were part of an ambitious plan to improve air quality and reduce emissions in the city. They were purchased as part of a 50-vehicle order made in 2023, with batteries that were supposed to last for more than 370 km (229 miles) on a single three-hour charge.
What Happened and What’s Being Done
BBC Scotland has reported that the technical issue is unrelated to the battery systems or the electric vehicle technology itself. The buses are not posing any safety risks. However, passengers quickly noticed the absence of the electric buses as vehicles from locations like Lanarkshire, Yorkshire, and Leicester were spotted replacing them.
A spokesperson from First Bus said, “We have identified a technical failure in 30 buses, and all affected buses have been taken off service until it can be resolved. We are working closely with the manufacturer Alexander Dennis to resolve this issue as quickly as possible.”
Temporary Diesel Bus Replacements
In response to the withdrawal, First Bus has reallocated compliant Euro VI diesel buses from across the UK to temporarily cover the routes. This is part of the company’s efforts to minimize disruption while keeping the fleet operational. The diesel buses are still ultra-low emission, meeting strict low emission zone (LEZ) standards.
The buses were manufactured by Alexander Dennis at its Larbert base, at a cost of £19.7 million. A spokesperson for Alexander Dennis confirmed that a structural issue was found in some of the BYD AD Enviro200EV electric buses, which were built in 2021. As a precaution, these buses have been removed from service while a solution is implemented. Alexander Dennis and BYD, the component manufacturer, have developed a fix to address the issue.
Environmental Goals at Risk
The electric buses were intended to make First Bus’s fleet fully emission-free, saving over 3,000 tonnes of CO2e per year as they replaced older, more polluting diesel buses. The Scottish government, through its ScotZEB funding, supported the project. Charging infrastructure, including rapid charging points, had also been installed at key depots such as Caledonia and Scotstoun.
The temporary withdrawal of these electric buses presents a setback to Glasgow’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and increase the use of cleaner transport. However, First Bus has pledged to resolve the issue swiftly and return the electric vehicles to service as soon as possible.
Next Steps and Ongoing Support
Both First Bus and Alexander Dennis are committed to resolving the issue quickly. Passengers can expect to see the electric buses back on the road once the rectifications have been made. As the issue is resolved, the push for a fully emission-free fleet in Glasgow continues to be a key goal, supported by funding and resources from both local and national authorities.
