Pelican uses HSBC to import Yutongs
Pelican Bus and Coach has secured a £30m funding package from HSBC UK, enabling it to source 129 electric buses from Yutong in the third quarter of 2021.
The electric buses are destined for use on city centre routes in different cities around the UK.
McGill’s Buses in Greenock is Pelican Bus and Coach’s largest customer to date, having recently ordered 55 Yutong E12 electric single-deckers. Pelican and Yutong will supply these 55 electric buses plus six electric coaches for operation in Glasgow ahead of the forthcoming COP26 climate change conference.
The funding from HSBC UK has helped create 11 new jobs at Pelican, including two new electric vehicle technician apprenticeships at the company’s headquarters in Castleford, West Yorkshire.
Pelican has partnered with Zenobe Energy to handle the second life of the vehicle batteries when they need replacing mid-way through the buses’ life. These batteries have further use on battery storage farms demonstrating the business’s sustainable ambitions beyond the initial life cycle of the bus.
“Fleet electrification is an important element of our businesses’ growth strategy but more importantly, it is a fundamental step towards achieving our country’s Net Zero targets” – Richard Crump
Richard Crump, Managing Director at Pelican Bus & Coach, said: “As momentum builds for the COP26 conference, we are proud to be one of the UK’s leading providers of clean and sustainable passenger vehicles that will be operating in Glasgow when the event is on. Fleet electrification is an important element of our businesses’ growth strategy but more importantly, it is a fundamental step towards achieving our country’s Net Zero targets. Each zero emission bus saves 1kg of carbon emission for every mile travelled compared to the very latest low emission diesel equivalent, so we’re delighted to play our part to decarbonise the industry further with this deal.
“We are committed to using our expertise to help our customers deliver the very best passenger experience at the lowest possible operating cost whilst significantly reducing their environmental impact. We thank HSBC UK for supporting us both with this order and continually since our first association with Yutong in 2014. Their support has made a huge difference in helping us promote our zero emission buses leading to cleaner urban environments.”
Rob King, HSBC UK’s Head of Sustainable Finance, said: “HSBC has pledged to achieve net zero from our financed portfolio by 2050 and has committed to working with all our clients to help them on their journey to net zero. Pelican is a great example of this. We are delighted that the buses will also form part of the COP26 event. Supporting innovations such as this will also help the UK as a whole in the transition to a lower carbon economy.”