Wrightbus coaches hit the road as Limerick goes electric

ELECTRIC vehicles provided by Wrightbus were rolled out in Limerick yesterday as the city bids to become the first on the island of Ireland to have a fully electric bus network.

Fifty-five of the Ballymena company’s rapid-charge double deck Streetdeck Electroliners will be used.

Wrightbus said the deal would mean cleaner air and quieter streets for the city.

The Republic’s National Transport Authority (NTA) invested €54m in the project.

The 55 buses will travel more than 2.1m km every year.

Wrightbus CEO Jean-marc Gales said: “We are delighted to partner with the NTA in the drive to zero-emission public transport and to have played our part in helping it develop Ireland’s first fully-electric regional bus service.

“We are at the forefront of zero-emission technology and have a tremendous reputation for our fleet, both battery-electric and hydrogen fuel-cell buses.

“Our ambition is to see many more of our buses be rolled out across cities, towns and rural areas all over the world.”

Irish transport minister Eamon Ryan said: “It is great to see the launch of electrified bus services in Limerick city.

“This follows on from the successful roll-out of a fully electrified town bus service in Athlone last year and the decarbonisation of the Dublin bus fleet.

“The government is committed to the greening of our public transport services, and this represents an important step toward meeting our climate targets, while also providing a quieter, cleaner bus service for the people of Limerick.”

NTA CEO Anne Graham said: “These zero-emission vehicles will not only provide a smoother, more accessible journey for our customers, but will also significantly reduce CO2 emissions and noise pollution in the areas they operate.

“This investment highlights the NTA’S dedication to creating a cleaner, greener and more efficient future for the people of Limerick.”

Bus Eireann CEO Stephen Kent added: “Our mission is to help make life better, and this transformative €54m investment in new zero-emission fleet, funded by the NTA, helps us reduce greenhouse gas emissions, providing a cleaner and greener public transport solution for everyone in Limerick city.”

Wrightbus was founded in 1946 and has been at the forefront of the movement to decarbonise public transport across the UK and Ireland.