Lothian leads the way with hybrid bus

Lothian Buses has become the first bus operator in Scotland to order a state-of-the-art hybrid single decker bus.

The delivery of ten of the Volvo buses at a cost of approximately £2.5 million underlines the commitment of Lothian Buses to embrace environmentally-friendly technology as one of the UK’s “greenest” bus fleets.

Each new bus, with a capacity for 76 passengers, will help reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions on selected routes by at least 30 per cent.

The new bus, manufactured in Poland, will also be the first in Lothian Buses’ 650-strong fleet to feature an energy saving engine-off-at-idle device. This means the bus will emit lower levels of air and noise pollution at bus stops and traffic lights.

The order for the buses was possible thanks to a grant of £750,000 from the Scottish Government’s second tranche of funding from its Green Bus Fund as announced on 5 April.