ELECTRIC buses will be rolled out across the South West by early 2026, Devon County Council (DCC) have said.

The announcement comes as DCC begins work to install charging infrastructure at Exeter bus depot in readiness for the arrival of the new electric fleet later this summer.

Located in the Matford Park and Ride, the charging points will be available for use by the public when not in use by a Stagecoach bus, creating a Community Charging Hub with high-speed charging technology.

DCC secured the initial Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) funding from the Department for Transport (DFT), with Stagecoach South West investing £15 million in to the project.

The first of the electric buses will be arriving in Exeter this summer, followed by Torbay and North Devon.

The full fleet will be rolled out across the South West by early 2026.

Stagecoach anticipates that for each new electric bus introduced to the fleet it has the capacity to remove approximately 20 to 40 cars from the road.

The new state-of-the-art buses will improve the passenger experience, providing users with considerably quieter, smoother, and more comfortable journeys, DCC says.

Peter Knight, Stagecoach South West Managing Director said: ‘Getting spades in the ground is an exciting moment for Stagecoach in the South West, it’s the start of our journey to creating a significant decrease in carbon emissions that will not only contribute to cleaner air and improved public health but also aligns with Exeter’s broader environmental goals of reducing the city’s carbon footprint and achieving its 2030 net zero goal.

‘This project wouldn’t be possible without the backing from local authority partners Devon County Council and Torbay Council who share our ambitious plans to deliver a greener thriving bus service for the region.

‘Their support along with the Governments and Stagecoach Groups gives us confidence for the future, and we look forward to welcoming the new fleet that will benefit the local community and bus users’ alike.’