First Bus depot goes all-electric with removal of fuel tank.

First Bus depot in York has achieved a monumental milestone by bidding farewell to its diesel refuelling tank, making it the first bus depot in Yorkshire to switch entirely to electric charging for its fleet.

Since its inception in 1932, First York has been reliant on diesel fuel for its operations. However, after over 30 years at the James Street depot site, the time has come to say goodbye to the 10-tonne diesel tank, roughly the size of a Portakabin, which held 44,000 litres of fuel, enough to last the depot seven days, requiring two deliveries per week to keep levels up.

Expressing her pride in this momentous occasion, Kayleigh Ingham, the Commercial Director of First North & West Yorkshire, stated, “We’re making history with the removal of our diesel refuelling tank. This is now the first bus depot in Yorkshire to operate its fleet entirely using electric charging. We are leading a greener transport revolution in York and the wider region.”

With a fleet of 86 zero-emission buses, First York is making significant strides towards reducing carbon emissions and saving close to 5,000 tonnes of carbon every year.

The elimination of the fuel tank is just one of the many steps taken in a £23m transformation of the depot, with £13m invested by First Bus and a further £10.2m co-funding from the government through the City of York Council.

Kayleigh Ingham went on to emphasise the significance of this move by stating, “This depot is at the forefront of First Bus’s strategy to have a zero-emission fleet nationally by 2035. Electric vehicles can inspire more people to consider bus travel by showcasing the real impact it has on creating cleaner air and providing a smoother, quieter ride.”

In a symbolic gesture of this transition, Andrew Cullen, the Managing Director of First North & West Yorkshire, and Kayleigh Ingham, were pictured at the York depot, marking this groundbreaking shift towards environmental sustainability.

Image courtesy of First Bus.