Major milestone marked with 329 zero emission electric buses on the road in the West Midlands

The roll out of 170 new Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 double decker bus by National Express West Midlands has been welcomed by the Mayor of the West Midlands - Richard Parker.

It is part of a £95 million investment by the company to modernise its fleet to create a more sustainable future for public transport.

The arrival of the state-of-the-art buses bring the total number of electric buses in operation to 329, meaning nearly a quarter of National Express West Midlands’ bus fleet is now zero emissions. 

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “This region is leading the way on greener public transport – with an entire fleet of electric buses being delivered in Coventry and now 170 new zero-emission buses across Birmingham, the Black Country and Solihull. That means cleaner air, quieter streets and a more comfortable, reliable service for passengers.

“Buses are the backbone of our network, with over half a million trips made in the region each day. That’s why we continue to work closely with our bus operators to decarbonise public transport and support our green transport revolution for a cleaner and healthier West Midlands while creating a network which works for everyone.”

Each electric bus saves an average of 61 tonnes of carbon annually, reducing carbon emissions by almost 20,000 tonnes every year.

Antony Goozee, bus strategy and commercial director at National Express West Midlands, said: “Replacing our diesel buses with electric vehicles and modernising our depots are key steps in our journey towards operating a fully zero-emission bus fleet by 2030. 

"These new clean, green double-decker buses are not just about improving efficiency and reducing our environmental impact, they also deliver a better experience for our passengers with quieter, smoother and more comfortable journeys.”