Funding boost for new electric buses in Devon

Around 90 new zero-emission buses are set to arrive in Devon after the county secured £7.53 million in Government funding.

The investment from the Department for Transport forms part of an expansion of the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) programme across the South West and South East.

The new buses will replace older diesel vehicles and are expected to benefit thousands of passengers across Devon, cutting harmful emissions, improving air quality and providing quieter journeys.

Councillor Jacqi Hodgson, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Biodiversity, said the funding would help improve the county’s bus network.

“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,” she added.

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

The announcement follows previous ZEBRA funding secured in 2024 and 2025 which is already delivering 51 electric buses, alongside 14 more funded through Devon’s Bus Service Improvement Plan.

Peter Knight, Managing Director at Stagecoach South West, said the investment would help replace older diesel vehicles with modern electric alternatives.

“This is another important step towards delivering a cleaner and more sustainable bus network for Devon,” he said.

Across England, £73.2 million of Government funding will deliver 484 zero-emission buses, building on a programme that has already introduced more than 2,500 cleaner buses nationwide.