Stagecoach has introduced its first electric buses into Chesterfield, after Derbyshire secured funding from the Department for Transport.

Toby Perkins, MP for Chesterfield, joined representatives from Stagecoach, Derbyshire County Council and Chesterfield Borough Council for the official launch of 57 new electric buses, including state-of-the-art Yutong single deck buses and Alexander Dennis double deck buses.

Toby said, “It was great to attend the launch of Stagecoach Yorkshire’s fleet of 57 new electric buses that will be in action across Chesterfield. These will help deliver cleaner air and be better for the environment. I want to thank everyone at Stagecoach, Derbyshire County Council and the Department for Transport for making this happen.”

The new buses replace over two-thirds of Stagecoach’s conventional diesel fleet at Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire, and the project has included installing a charging infrastructure with a 4.5Mw power supply to Chesterfield depot. The new electric fleet is saving over 102,000 tonnes of carbon emissions per year compared to diesel, helping to bring cleaner air to the local community.

The project is part of Derbyshire’s successful bid for Zero Emission Bus Regional (ZEBRA) funding from the Department for Transport. The Zebra2 grant funding totals £5,755,126, and Stagecoach investment totalling £25,308,928. The total value of the project is the largest investment ever in bus travel into the Chesterfield local area.