The National Transport Authority (NTA) has announced an order from Bamford Bus Company (trading as Wrightbus) for 120 double-deck battery-electric buses, which are part of a framework agreement that provides for the procurement of up to 800 zero-emission battery-electric buses over a period of five years, according to a statement published on NationalTransport.ie.
Details
This initial order for 120 buses, which will be outshopped in the green, white and yellow Transport For Ireland (TFI) livery, represents an €80.4 million investment, according to the statement published on NationalTransport.ie, which also noted that 100 of the 120 buses will be used by Dublin Bus on PSO bus services in the Dublin Metropolitan Area and 20 will be used by Bus Éireann in the Limerick metropolitan area, with the first buses expected to enter public service next year and buses from future orders possibly also being used to operate PSO bus services in other parts of Ireland including the metropolitan areas of Cork, Galway and Waterford.
Statement By Minister For Transport
The statement published on NationalTransport.ie included a statement from Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan that said, "We know that decarbonising transport is imperative, as part of our effort to tackle climate change. Public transport because it is shared mobility is already a far more sustainable and economical way of getting around, particularly compared to a private car that runs on fossil fuel, and the battery-electric buses that we are now ordering, will accelerate the transition to a zero-emission fleet.
"Going electric will reduce the carbon footprint of our public transport fleet, and will help us reach our long-term climate goals, as outlined in the Climate Action Plan. These new electric buses will also help reduce air pollution, improve public health and improve access to public transport for people of all abilities.
"I welcome today's announcement and look forward to seeing cleaner and greener buses in operation in our cities."
Statement By NTA CEO
The statement published on NationalTransport.ie included a statement from NTA CEO Anne Graham that said, "The transition to a zero-emission bus fleet is a central component of our BusConnects project, and the procurement of these battery-electric buses represents a key milestone in that process.
"There is no doubt that people are looking to us to provide better, more sustainable transport alternatives in all areas, and it is incumbent on us as an Authority to respond to that demand in a positive way. In so doing, we will reduce the need for personal vehicles, making the quality of the air we breathe healthier for everyone.
"When it comes to taking climate action, we in the NTA want to play our part and we want to lead by example. We are doing that by transitioning our public transport fleet away from fossil fuel to zero emission technologies and as you see today we are making real progress. This process is already under way, and when complete in 2035 will result public transport emissions being massively reduced."
Statement By Wrightbus Managing Director
The statement published on NationalTransport.ie also included a statement from Wrightbus managing director Neil Collins that said, "We are extremely proud of this historic deal, which is hugely significant for Ireland's decarbonisation ambitions and for us here at Wrightbus.
"This deal further cements the reputation we have built in the zero-emission sector, and follows hot on the heels of historic deals in Australia and Germany. This shows our ambition to be at the forefront of the zero emission drive in cities, towns and rural areas across the world."
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