Lothian Buses has confirmed that it is the first bus operator in Scotland to order Volvo's 7900 hybrid 'green' single-decker buses.
Lothian Buses' decision to order 10 of the new hybrid buses was made possible by a grant of £750,000 from the Scottish Government's second tranche of funding from its Green Bus Fund, as announced on 5 April.
The new Volvo 7900 hybrid single-decker bus, manufactured in Poland, will also be the first in Lothian Buses' 650-strong fleet to feature an energy saving engine-off-at-idle device.
This means the bus, the first operated by Lothian Buses effectively with a Euro 6 standard rating, will emit lower levels of air and noise pollution at bus stops and traffic lights.
Ian Craig, managing director of Lothian Buses, says the delivery of these hybrid buses, at a cost of some £2.5 million, demonstrates the company's commitment to environmentally-friendly technology.
Each new 12 metre long Volvo bus, with a capacity for 76 passengers, will reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions on the routes selected by at least 30%, he adds.
"We know that our passengers want environmentally friendly buses, and, as an award-winning bus company, we wish to help Scotland meet its carbon reduction targets," states Craig.
"Our decision to invest further in a state-of-the-art low carbon bus fleet underlines Lothian Buses' commitment to introduce industry leading, practical measures that firmly establish us as the operator of one of the most modern and 'greenest' bus fleets in the country."
