Oxford is positioning itself as a leader in sustainable transport with the introduction of 55 new electric buses, a collaboration between Stagecoach West and Oxfordshire County Council aimed at
reducing pollution.
Chris Hanson, Managing Director of Stagecoach West, emphasized the city's role in advancing electric public transport, stating, "Oxford is right at the forefront of electrification. While many cities are now starting to catch up, Oxford remains ahead, and that's really fantastic."
This initiative follows a report showing a decline in nitrogen oxide emissions from 40% to 32% between 2022 and now, coinciding with the deployment of 159 electric buses. The study also highlighted that buses now contribute just 4% of road transport emissions—a 28% reduction compared to previous figures. In contrast, cars remain the primary source, accounting for 48% of nitrogen oxide emissions.
Although Oxford nearly became the first UK city to transition almost entirely to electric buses, Coventry narrowly took the title. However, Councillor Andrew Gant remains optimistic about Oxford's progress, confirming that further steps are in motion to reduce pollution levels.
"The Zero Emissions Zone pilot in central Oxford has delivered promising results, and we plan to expand it over the next few years," Councillor Gant said. In addition, the county council is exploring other pollution-reducing strategies, including a pilot scheme introducing traffic filters in key areas.
With these developments, Oxford continues to push forward in its mission for cleaner air and a more sustainable future in public transport. Photo by User:Alex Noble, Wikimedia commons.
