Stagecoach has announced plans for its first fully electric fleet and depot in Stockton-on-Tees in a celebration event took place at Acklam Hall, Middlesborough on 19 May.
The site will house a fleet of Yutong electric buses, including the company’s first Yutong double-decker.
According to stagecoach the new electric site will also open the door for business innovation as the Stagecoach Solutions team unveiled a new B2B offering.
The offering is expected to give regional businesses access to the charging infrastructure during off-service hours.
Stagecoach said this is a “forward-thinking approach” that creates a secondary income stream and helps decarbonise the wider transport ecosystem.
Electric vehicle infrastructure is expected to be in place across Stagecoach’s 43 sites by the end of 2025 with more than 10% of its 8,400-fleet operating as zero emissions.
Stagecoach described this operation as forming the blueprint for future electrification across its UK operating companies.
Claire Miles, Chief Executive Officer at Stagecoach said: “This announcement marks an exciting and important step on our journey to deliver a smarter, and more sustainable transport network.
“Not only are we investing in quieter, zero tail pipe emission buses for our communities, but we’re also transforming our infrastructure to build a more efficient and future-ready business.”
Steve Walker, Managing Director of Stagecoach North East added: “We’re incredibly proud to announce plans for our first fully electric fleet and depot here in Stockton-on-Tees.
“This is a landmark moment not just for Stagecoach North East, but for the wider Tees Valley region. By working in partnership with local stakeholders and investing in cutting-edge technology, we’re helping to deliver a transport network that’s fit for the next generation.”
Ian Downie, Head of Yutong UK, said: “We are very proud to work with Stagecoach and the wider community. This is about more than just the vehicles - it is about sustainability, about community and the partnership within this region and the innovation that Stagecoach are bringing in looking at it on a depot basis is to me a blueprint that could be cascaded across the whole country.”