Representatives from the Conservative-led City of York Council, First York and local bus manufacturer Optare have welcome the arrival of the first “Metrodecker EV” – the first zero-emission and fully electric double-decker bus to be used outside of London.
The new bus has the capacity to carry 99 passengers, and has a range of 150 miles from one overnight charge. The new vehicle is to be trialled on the Park and Ride network and selected routes within the city over the next month, as part of a promise to introduce ‘greener’ buses in a bid to make York’s Park and Ride one of the most sustainable and efficient in the country.
This new fleet of buses will help to improve air quality in the city – one of the three air quality management areas in the city has already been lifted, with a second expected to be lifted next year. Each new bus we introduce takes 99 cars off the road, so our focus is on helping to make journeys via bus quicker and more comfortable.
The focus isn’t just about buses – we’re helping taxis to replace their vehicles and beginning to introduce a city-wide network of electric charging points which currently have 1500 uses per month.”
For more information on York’s Park and Ride scheme, visit: https://www.itravelyork.info/park-and-ride