Oxford Bus Company hails sustainability milestone following transition to electric
Oxford Bus Company has unveiled its latest sustainability milestone - that over last year its electric bus fleet saved more than 3,175 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
The 104 electric buses in the city were introduced over the first half of 2024 and covered 4 million (m) km over the whole year.
READ MORE: Oxford Bus Company ahead of schedule in electric fleet roll-out
Their introduction prevented the burning of around 1,255,000 litres of diesel fuel, it said, adding that at current usage, it estimates the fleet, in 2025, will cover 6m km, increasing the CO2 emissions reduction to an expected 4,750 tonnes.
"This is another fantastic sustainability milestone following our groundbreaking project to deliver our all- electric city fleet," said Luke Marion, Oxford Bus Company's managing director.
"We're making a really significant contribution to reducing emissions, and improving air quality in our city - and with the entire electric fleet due to be in service for the whole of this year the benefits to the environment will increase further.
"I'm really proud of everyone who has helped us deliver this ambitious infrastructure project which the community is now benefiting from."
Oxford Bus Company, owned by the Go-Ahead Group, in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council and Stagecoach have worked to introduce 159 electric buses into service in total.
The county council was awarded £32.8m from the government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme and contributed £6m directly, while bus operators invested £43.7m.
The Go-Ahead Group has a target to reduce emissions by 75% by 2035 and become a net-zero company by 2045.
An Oxford City Council air quality report recently revealed NOx emissions from buses has decreased by more than half since 2013.
Buses now contribute less pollution than cars in Oxford city centre.
