Leicester powers ahead with electric buses from Pelican

Leicester City Council is set to purchase a further 10 fully electric buses through leading zero-emission bus supplier Pelican, using around £4 million of Government funding, as the city continues its transformation towards one of the UK’s largest fully electric urban bus networks.

The new buses will operate on council-supported services delivered by Centrebus, serving routes 20, 24, 81, 83 and 162, bringing cleaner, quieter and more sustainable journeys to thousands of passengers.

The investment builds on Leicester City Council’s existing fleet of 24 electric buses, which already operate the city’s Park & Ride services, Hop! city centre buses, Hospital Hopper and Orbital routes.

The investment is another major milestone in the Leicester Buses One Network Partnership, which is bringing together Leicester City Council and the city’s bus operators to deliver a simpler, more integrated network based around five customer promises: Electric, Frequent, Reliable, Easy and Great Value. The partnership is creating a coordinated network of around 30 main bus lines with common standards for vehicles, ticketing, information, branding and customer experience.

Councillor Geoff Whittle, Assistant City Mayor (Environment & Transport) said:

 “This latest investment is another significant step towards delivering one of the cleanest and most modern bus networks in the country. Every new electric bus improves air quality, reduces carbon emissions and provides a quieter, more comfortable journey for passengers. Together with our operator partners, we’re creating a simpler, greener network that encourages more people to choose the bus.””

Ian Downie, Head of Yutong UK at Pelican Bus and Coach commented:

 “We are absolutely delighted to have been selected to provide an additional 10 electric buses to Leicester City Council. These state-of-the-art, air conditioned vehicles will be delivered in Q1 2027.”

David Brookes, Managing Director, Centrebus said:

“ We’re delighted to be introducing these new electric buses onto supported services across Leicester. They will provide a better experience for our customers while supporting the city’s ambitious environmental goals.”

As well as reducing emissions, the new buses will provide passengers with modern, accessible vehicles that support Leicester’s wider ambition to encourage more people to travel by bus. The Leicester Buses Partnership has already introduced integrated ticketing, joint timetables, consistent branding and major investment in passenger information as part of its One Network vision.