Highland Council-owned D&E Coaches adds four electric buses under ScotZEB programme
By Eve
D&E Coaches, a Highland Council-owned operator running more than 60 vehicles and employing around 88 staff, has introduced four new electric buses supplied by Wrightbus as part of the Scottish Government's ScotZEB programme. The Inverness-based firm, which began in 1996 with a £1000 loan and a single minibus, now operates school transport, tourism and public services across the Highlands. The investment marks the company's 30th anniversary and its next phase of service in one of the UK's most geographically demanding regions.
Why it matters: The deployment demonstrates how regional operators in remote, challenging terrain are accessing government funding to electrify fleets, offering a model for similar rural transport contracts. It also highlights Wrightbus as a supplier winning ScotZEB awards in Scotland's public and council-linked bus sector.