The 36 zero-emission electric buses will help generate a clean and sustainable transport system in the capital.

The operator announced the arrival of the new vehicles across their social media channels on New Year’s Eve. A promotional video showed footage of the new electric buses with the tagline, "Cardiff is going electric". The end of the video said that the buses would be "launching in January 2022."

Cardiff Bus held a launch event on Friday 14^th January outside Cardiff Central Library, giving the public an opportunity to see two of the new electric vehicles up close.

The new vehicles will help generate a clean and sustainable transport system, improve air quality and reduce noise pollution on Cardiff’s roads.

Major changes were proposed last year to improve Cardiff's bus service for residents and commuters, as part of a new strategy designed to double the number of people who use buses in Cardiff by 2030.

The nine-point strategy, which saw Cardiff Council launch a public consultation, included plans such as introducing cheaper fares as low as £1, creating new bus priority 'smart' corridors, as well as increasing the number of zero-carbon buses on the road.

Back in 2019, it was announced that Cardiff would be getting a new fleet of 36 electric buses in an investment by the UK Government worth around £5.7m.

In April 2021, Cardiff Bus confirmed that it had placed an order for 36 "of the latest battery-electric buses" in an investment that is a collaboration between the bus company and its shareholder, Cardiff Council.

According to Cardiff Bus, the buses arrived in the city in November 2021, with work underway at the time for new charging infrastructure to be installed at the bus operator’s Sloper Road depot in preparation for the arrival of the Yutong E12 zero-emission buses.

The bus company has also said that, in addition to their "environmental credentials," the new electric buses will provide a "comfortable and quiet ride" for customers. They are also fitted with 'next-stop' audio and visual announcements, as well as USB ports.

Customers are reminded that Cardiff Bus are currently operating reduced timetables due to the ongoing impact of the Omicron variant. Details can be found here.

Information Source: WalesOnline