NCT to show off electric Yutongs

Nottingham City Transport (NCT) is to display seven of its new electric Yutong single-deckers entering service in the Old Market Square in Nottingham on 9 March, btween 10am and 3pm.

Following a successful joint bid by NCT and Nottingham City Council to the DfT’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) Fund, NCT has ordered 48 electric single-deckers and installed new charging infrastructure at its Trent Bridge Garage. The total cost of the new buses and infrastructure comes to £32.2m, with £13.4m from ZEBRA and £18.8m from NCT over the lifetime of the vehicles.

The first 24 buses will enter service in the coming weeks, once the energisation of Trent Bridge Garage is completed. The remaining 24 single deck buses will enter service in the first half of 2025. Trials for electric double decks have started and an order for 20 double deck buses, to enter service in 2026, is expected to be placed soon.

“The Nottingham team have challenged us to produce a customer centric vehicle, and we are extremely proud of what has been achieved” – Ian Downie, Head of Yutong UK

Ian Downie, Head of Yutong UK, said, “This is a significant step for Nottingham City Transport on their journey to zero emissions. The Nottingham team have challenged us to produce a customer centric vehicle, and we are extremely proud of what has been achieved. The vehicle is fitted with full colour front destinations, luxury trimmed high backed seating, new swept hand poles, illuminated bell pushes, and our electric air conditioning system for maximum customer comfort.”

“This is the very start of an exciting new era in the long history of NCT” – David Astill, NCT Managing Director

David Astill, NCT Managing Director, said: “This is the very start of an exciting new era in the long history of NCT. We are keen to play our part as Nottingham aspires to be carbon-neutral by 2028. The delivery of our first 24 electric buses marks just the start of a programme that will see our remaining diesel-powered buses leave the fleet over the next four years. We hope to see many of our customers at the launch on Saturday, and am sure they will be impressed by this further step-change in the quality of service offered by Nottingham’s bus company.”

The buses are expected to do a full day in service on a single charge, with the charging infrastructure delivered, supplied and maintained by Zenobē. In addition to a fully managed charging service, Zenobē has also financed 24 batteries onboard the vehicles, including a 16-year performance guarantee.