THE first electric buses in Somerset have hit the streets of Taunton, Wellington, Burnham, Bridgwater and Minehead.

First Bus in Somerset has started rolling out the zero-emissions vehicles in the county, with 13 single deckers and 12 double deckers to be brought into service over the coming months.

Funding for the EV buses and supporting charging infrastructure was secured in partnership with Somerset Council, with £2.2m from the Department for Transport’s (DfT) ZEBRA 2 (Zero Emission Bus Regional Area) initiative, while First Bus invested a further £12.5m.

When all 25 buses are in use, more than half of the total fleet (40%) will be electric, carrying around 40,000 passengers each week.

EV routes in the Taunton area will include:
1 – Taunton – Pyrland & Priorswood – Every 30 mins
IE – Silk Mills Park & Ride – Musgrove Park Hospital – Taunton – Pyrland – Every 60 minutes
4 – Taunton – Wheatley Crescent & Lane Estate – Every 60 mins
6 – Taunton – South Road, Juniper Road, Normandy Drive & Wordsworth Drive – Every 60 mins
7 – Taunton – Galmington – Every 45 minutes
21 21A Taunton – Burnham-on-Sea via Bridgwater – Every 35 minutes
22 22A X22 22C Taunton – Rockwell Green, Wellington, Tonedale and Tiverton – Every 15 minutes
28 28A – Taunton – Minehead via Bishops Lydeard – Every 40 minutes

First Bus said the state-of-the-art buses “mean cleaner air and quieter streets for local people – cutting pollution and reducing carbon emissions”.

The vehicles also feature on-board USB charging points, on-screen and audio announcements, and improved accessibility.

READ MORE: Taunton set for greener travel with EV bus rollout
READ MORE: West Country’s first EV bus depot unveiled in Somerset

They will operate from the upgraded Hamilton Road depot in Taunton and Minehead depot, which have been electrified with charging infrastructure.

Simon Goff, First Bus South managing director, said: “The arrival of our first electric buses in Somerset marks a major step forward in delivering a cleaner, greener future for public transport in the region.

“For our passengers, these vehicles offer a smoother, quieter, and more comfortable journey, while significantly cutting emissions and improving air quality.

“It’s also a proud moment for our team, who’ve been instrumental in getting us to this point and are excited to operate and maintain these state-of-the-art vehicles.

“This is just the beginning of a transformation that benefits both our communities and our colleagues.”

The EV buses have been welcomed in Taunton by Cllr Richard Wilkins. Pictures: First Bus

Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council’s lead member for transport and waste services, added: “These initiatives remain a major part of supporting our drive to creating a cleaner and more sustainable county.

“Our partnership with First Bus South is a key part of finding innovative solutions to delivering this change and we thank them for their major investment in Somerset’s future.”

The move in the Somerset Council area comes after the first EV bus depot in the West Country west was unveiled in North Somerset.