Stagecoach has confirmed that it is planning to increase its electric bus fleet by over 80 per cent in the next 12 months as it continues its journey towards being a net zero business.

The coach operator has published a new report outlining progress in 2021-2022 against the strategy that it had launched in 2021, ‘Driving Net Zero: Better Places to Live and Work’.

The report details a programme of improvements delivered in 2021-2022 against its Planet, People, Prosperity and Governance targets. Furthermore, it includes a package of capital investment in new cleaner buses, measures to improve energy efficiency as well as improvements and investment for Stagecoach employees and local communities.

The company is continuing with its plans to target a zero-emission UK bus fleet by 2035, and has introduced new electric buses across many parts of the country, including one of Europe’s biggest investment in electric buses in Manchester.

As part of these plans, Stagecoach will be increasing its electric bus fleet from 184 buses to 343 within the next year, representing an increase of 86 per cent. It will also be launching the first all-electric city bus networks in the UK in Inverness and Perth in 2023.

“We know there is still a lot of work to be done, but we’re pleased to have had a really good year of progress against our sustainability strategy,” said Greg Ritt, Head of Sustainability for Stagecoach.