Search: Gloucestershire

Electric buses have launched on routes serving Gloucester and Tewkesbury, according to Gloucester News Centre. The deployment marks the introduction of battery electric vehicles to local public transport services in these Gloucestershire towns. No fleet size or operator details were provided in the available excerpt.

Why it matters: The rollout signals growing demand for depot charging infrastructure to support municipal bus electrification in the UK, creating opportunities for charge point operators and electrical contractors serving public transport depots.

Pulhams, a Go-Ahead subsidiary operating in the Cotswolds, has put 15 new Wrightbus electric buses into service on public transport routes following an £8.17 million investment. The fleet comprises seven double-decker Electroliners with 442 kWh batteries and eight single-decker GB Kites (four 11.6 m models with 528 kWh batteries, four 10.2 m models with 442 kWh batteries), with £6.63 million spent on vehicles and £1.54 million on charging infrastructure. Funding came from Go-Ahead Group (£4.7 million), the Department of Transport's ZEBRA scheme (£3.21 million) and Gloucestershire County Council (£255,000).

Why it matters: The project demonstrates how combined public and private funding can unlock regional electric bus procurement, with the ZEBRA scheme covering nearly 40 per cent of total costs. The infrastructure spend of £1.54 million for 15 buses offers a benchmark for depot electrification budgets in similar rural and semi-rural operations.

Gloucestershire County Council has begun installing four dedicated EV charging bays on Lyefield Road East in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, despite objections from residents who say 99 per cent of locals oppose the scheme. Residents claim they received no meaningful consultation and that those with electric vehicles already have home chargers, while the street serves a nearby infant school and experiences rat-run traffic. The council highways team has defended the rollout.

Why it matters: The installation highlights friction between local authority rollout targets and community acceptance, a recurring challenge for CPOs and councils deploying on-street infrastructure. Procurement teams may face similar pushback where site selection lacks visible engagement or demand evidence.

A Gloucestershire council is exploring restricting new overnight parking charges to multi-storey car parks only, aiming to maintain footfall in town centres. The proposal would exempt on-street and surface car parks from overnight fees. The move reflects local authority concerns about balancing revenue generation with economic activity in retail and hospitality areas.

Why it matters: The policy could affect where councils and private operators prioritise EV charger installations, as multi-storey car parks with overnight charges may become more attractive sites for destination charging infrastructure. Procurement teams should monitor whether exempting surface lots shifts demand patterns for charging hardware in different car park types.

Emergency services in Gloucestershire are testing electric vehicle charging facilities as part of a transition to zero-emission fleets. The trial, reported by Punchline-Gloucester.com, involves blue-light vehicles and supporting infrastructure to assess operational readiness for electrification. Specific deployment numbers and timelines were not disclosed in the available excerpt.

Why it matters: Public sector fleet electrification creates procurement opportunities for depot charging solutions and demonstrates operational feasibility for high-utilisation vehicles. Emergency service trials provide valuable use-case data for CPOs targeting fleet and public authority contracts.

Wrightbus has confirmed delivery of four 528 kWh GB Kite Electroliners and seven 442 kWh StreetDeck Electroliners to Pulhams Coaches, part of Go-Ahead-owned Oxford Bus Company. Senior management from Oxford Bus Company visited the Ballymena factory to sign off the order, which will enter service across the Pulhams network in Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire. The announcement was reported in Coach and Bus Week.

Why it matters: The order signals continued fleet electrification by a major UK bus operator and demonstrates Wrightbus securing repeat business from the Go-Ahead group. The dual battery capacity specifications suggest route optimisation planning, relevant for operators and charging infrastructure planners serving similar regional networks.