JERSEY will have its first two electric buses in service later this year, Liberty Bus has confirmed following vehicles trials on the Island’s roads over the past 12 months.
The company is awaiting delivery of two new vehicles which will be used predominantly on St Helier routes, but also to support other services across the Island.
Liberty Bus director Kevin Hart confirmed that terms had been agreed for the delivery of the buses, which will join the company’s 80-strong fleet before Christmas.
‘We have trialled three single electric buses over the last year.All the trials were great and now we have an opportunity to purchase two vehicles and get them into service this year,’ Mr Hart said.
The company is awaiting confirmation of the arrival date for the vehicles but it is hoped that they might be used in service as soon as next month.
News of the arrival of electric buses came as the Infrastructure Department commented on the delay of the Island’s sustainable transport roadmap.
Infrastructure Minister Tom Binet told a Scrutiny Panel that ‘limited resources’ within the department were responsible for the delay in publishing the document but he also expressed concern about funding to support the sustainable transport agenda.
‘The issue is about money to do anything once the review is out,’ Deputy Binet told the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel.
