Devon to get more electric buses thanks to multi-million Government funding

Around 90 new zero emission buses are to be rolled out on the streets of Devon after £7.53million was awarded to the county council.

The latest Department for Transport investment is part of an expansion of existing Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) projects in the South West and South East.

Devon County Council said the new fleet of zero emission buses will benefit thousands of passengers across Devon.

They will replace older diesel vehicles, cutting harmful emissions to improve air quality and improve journeys for people travelling for work, education and healthcare.

It follows last month’s news Barnstaple would get 21 state-of-the-art vehicles for the town's depot as part of a wider rollout of 110 electric buses across the county.

Councillor Jacqi Hodgson, the council’s cabinet member for climate change and biodiversity, said: “Our ambition is to encourage more people in Devon to travel by bus and this is a vital investment that can help upgrade our local bus network.

“Cleaner, greener buses benefit passengers and the environment and the rollout of new electric buses will play a key part in tackling carbon emissions.

“Alongside our existing Bus Service Improvement Plan and, working in the future with the Devon & Torbay County Combined Authority and Torbay Council, this new funding from Government will support our ongoing investment to improve bus services and infrastructure in the county.”

The funding announcement builds on previous funding successfully secured from the ZEBRA scheme in 2024 and 2025 to deliver 51 electric buses, as well 14 additional vehicles funded through Devon’s Bus Service Improvement Plan funding.

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Peter Knight, managing director at Stagecoach South West, said: “We welcome this funding, which represents another important step towards delivering a cleaner and more sustainable bus network for Devon.

“Working in partnership with Devon County Council, these new zero-emission buses will help us replace older diesel vehicles with modern electric alternatives, improving air quality while providing customers with quieter, more comfortable journeys.

“Investment like this is vital to supporting the transition to a greener fleet and encouraging more people to choose the bus for everyday travel across the county.”

Across England, the Government’s new investment of £73.2million will deliver 484 zero emission buses, building on the existing ZEBRA programme which has already funded more than 2,500 cleaner buses nationally.

Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander MP, said: “Buses are the backbone of our public transport network and passengers across Devon deserve a network they can rely on and be proud of.

“This funding will replace polluting diesel buses with new electric vehicles that will make a real difference to people's daily lives, better connecting them to work, to healthcare and to opportunity, whilst cleaning up the air we all breathe.

“But this is about more than new buses. It's about cleaner air for children walking to school and reliable connections for people getting about their daily lives, and I'm proud to back these communities' ambition to deliver exactly that.”