All aboard for COP26: 22 electric buses planned for Glasgow ahead of Climate Summit

(Business Green, 4 Mar 2021) Delegates attending the Glasgow Climate Summit in person this autumn could be able to hop on a brand new electric bus to travel between venues, after operator First Glasgow and manufacturers Alexander Dennis Ltd and BYD UK unveiled plans to deliver nearly two dozen zero emission buses for the city's bus network ahead of the pivotal UN conference.

The £9m venture unveiled earlier this week by the bus operator aims to have 22 all-electric buses and their associated charging infrastructure up and running before politicians, diplomats, campaigners, and media descend on the Scottish city this November for the crucial COP26 Summit.

The 40-seater BYD ADL electric buses will be produced at ADL's Falkirk plant, and once completed will be based and charged at a depot owned by First Glasgow in the south side of Glasgow, the partners said.

Frank Thorpe, managing director at BYD, said the company was pleased that buses equipped with its battery technology would be on show during the UN climate conference, but emphasised that Glaswegians would reap the benefits of low carbon transport long after the summit.

"We're thrilled at the prospect of our vehicles taking centre stage during COP26, although the real winners will be the people of Glasgow who are set to benefit from a new way of travelling around their great city - a way that is truly sustainable, as well as extremely safe and comfortable," he said.

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Business Green, 4 Mar 2021: All aboard for COP26: 22 electric buses planned for Glasgow ahead of Climate Summit