The path to decarbonisation is well trodden by many drivers, operators and companies, but Coventry has become the first city in the UK to run an all-electric bus fleet. It’s a story of how more than 200 electric double-deckers replaced the diesel-powered versions, all within the birthplace of the British motor industry.

Coventry City Council was the driving force behind the project, with Shamala Gadgil, an EV infrastructure programme manager at the Council, working on the idea from the start. As she explains, it wasn’t a journey that happened overnight. 

“The groundwork was laid several years ago, with Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council and Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) submitting a joint Expression of Interest to the Department for Transport (DfT),” she recalls. “The proposal built on Coventry’s successful track record in rolling out ultra-low emission vehicles, including the Ultra-Low Emission Bus (ULEB) project, which deployed 10 electric buses supported by solar energy and battery storage at the local bus depot.”

Efficiency drive

Fast-forward to today and, helped by funding support from the All-Electric Bus Town (AEBT) scheme, a comprehensive electrification programme has been completed. This included vehicle procurement, charging infrastructure, depot upgrades and capacity building. 

These upgrades included the introduction of smart charging systems to help operators manage energy demand and reduce costs. Overheads have also been cut thanks to overnight charging, when electricity is cheaper, with the added benefit of improved efficiency thanks to all of the vehicles being fully charged in the morning.

“This transformation was supported by the city’s expansive EV charge point network,” explains Gadgil, “which now includes more than 2,300 public chargers delivered through Coventry’s On-Street Residential Charge Point Scheme (ORCS).”

The network is now one of the largest in the UK outside London to offer residents, businesses and fleet operators’ reliable access to both fast and rapid charging infrastructure. But while electrification improved efficiency, arguably the biggest challenge was decarbonisation, a crucial factor that helped the team built up momentum for the project. 

“Since the early pilots, the pace of delivery has been remarkable,” says Gadgil. “Coventry now has more than 200 zero-emission buses across key arterial routes, many of which serve residential areas. Each new bus replacing its diesel predecessor significantly reduces emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM) and carbon dioxide (CO₂).”

Bigger bus benefits

However, it’s not all about cleaner air. Residents and passengers have benefitted from reduced noise pollution from the near-silent electric buses, while the journeys are more enjoyable and comfortable thanks to the brand new vehicles. 

There are also economic benefits, as Gadgil points out: “The programme has supported local jobs through vehicle supply chains, infrastructure works and ongoing operations,” she explains. At this time of high fuel prices and overheads for bus operators, the move to electric could prove to be a very shrewd one economically too. 

“Coventry’s experience provides a roadmap for other cities aiming to decarbonise public transport,” says Gadgil. “It underscores the importance of integrated planning, cross-sector collaboration and having a clear local vision backed by national policy support. Coventry is strengthening its position as a national centre for transport innovation – a city that not only pilots technologies but delivers them at scale.” 

Read Shamala Gadgil’s article on Coventry’s all‑electric bus fleet:

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Credit: Coventry City Council