Welsh Government to fund electric buses on two Flintshire routes

Electric buses are set to be deployed on two Flintshire routes following the award of £450,000 from the Welsh Government.   ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The investment announced by Transport and North Wales Minister Ken Skates today forms part of the North Wales metro funding. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Two electric bus vehicles will serve routes to Buckley and Treuddyn, as well as the charging infrastructure to maintain them. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The routes are part of Flintshire’s aim to link rural routes to main hubs in the county. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The vehicles will be housed at the council’s facility in Buckley which includes a solar farm allowing the buses to be charged using a locally generated renewable energy source. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The new vehicles will be larger, to accommodate growing demand, and which will also allow social distancing should that be required. Ken Skates said: “This North Wales metro development shows our commitment to invest in greener transport and is part of our drive to build back better following the covid-19 pandemic. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The vehicles will be larger, meeting demand for use of the services, and allowing space for equipment such as strollers and walking frames making travel easy and convenient. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“It’s great to see the vehicles will be charged using solar power generated at the site in Buckley, an excellent example of sustainable green transport.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Flintshire Council is providing £358,000 for the vehicles which is being match funded by the Welsh Government. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Flintshire County Council are delighted to have been awarded this funding which will initially benefit the communities in the east of the county. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Councillor Carolyn Thomas, Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Countryside and Deputy Leader of the Council said: “The funding will provide some welcome support to the Council’s aspirations to reduce its carbon footprint and will help provide a sustainable public transport service in both rural and urban areas of the County. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The purchase of the two electric bus vehicles, along with the development of a key sustainable energy Hub, symbolises the start of a very exciting opportunity for the Council which will greatly contribute to the Council’s vision for a zero carbon future’’ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

[Feature image is of a Mercedes eCitaro fuel cell bus as featured here https://fuelcellsworks.com/ it’s not known what the bus model or spec will be deployed on the Flintshire routes.]  ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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