Oxford Bus Company (OBC) has reported that the final of its 104 battery-electric buses has been put into service.

The roll-out process across its city fleets, BROOKESbus service and City Sightseeing Oxford began in November 2023.

Part of the project was the installation of an electricity substation at OBC’s Cowley depot, at which Zenobe fitted 104 rapid-chargers, ensuring a full charge takes less than four hours.

OBC marked the milestone by inviting the public to see their vehicles and ask staff questions at Bonn Square, Oxford.

Luke Marion, Managing Director of the Go-Ahead subsidiary, says: “This ground-breaking investment and roll out of our all-electric city fleet is already delivering lower emissions, quieter and smoother journeys, and better air quality for our city.

“It has been a tremendous achievement to roll out so many buses over such a short space of time, along with all the charging infrastructure to support this, and I’m very proud of everyone who helped deliver this ambitious infrastructure project on schedule.”

The electric buses were purchased with the aid of the Zero Emission Bus Regional Area bid won by a consortium of the Go-Ahead Group, Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council and Stagecoach. The batch is comprised of 99 Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliner double-deckers and five Wrightbus GB Kite Electroliner single-deckers.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, adds: “I’m so thrilled to see these beautiful vehicles gliding noiselessly around our city instead of the diesel vehicles they have replaced, making the air we all breathe significantly better.

“Their presence demonstrates how the county council is backing its ambitions with political and financial capital, alongside our partners, to deliver a safer, cleaner, greener, better county for residents and visitors.

“Together with policies such as traffic filters to hugely increase bus efficiency, we are delivering on our vision of a better future.”