A Wakefield-based truck and bus supplier has secured a £60 million green funding package to support the distribution of 250 new electric buses.
Pelican Bus and Coach is the sole UK and Ireland importer and distributor for Zhengzhou Yutong Bus, the world’s largest manufacturer of electric public road transport solutions, based in China. When operational they will collectively remove more than 10 million tonnes of CO2 from Britain’s public transport sector every year.
The third generation family-owned business, established in 1919, secured the funding package from HSBC UK to supply fleet operators throughout the UK and Ireland,
Read more: E.on and partners to explore green hydrogen plan for Sheffield's steel industry
Richard Crump, managing director at Pelican Bus and Coach, part of Pelican Engineering Co Ltd, said: “With this deal, we not only increase the number of electric buses in operation across the UK, but also maintain our leading role in the move towards zero-emission public transport. We are proud of our long-term relationship with HSBC UK as well as with Zhengzhou Yutong Bus, and are looking forward to seeing these buses on our roads.”
The vehicles will be mostly electric single deck 10 and 12 metre vehicles, but Pelican will also offer an electric coach and airside bus, and in 2023 an electric double deck will join the UK model range, which Pelican expects to be operational all over the UK in the next 12 months.
Services are already confirmed in Glasgow, where it supplied 55 electric buses and six electric coaches, for operation at COP26, as well as Aberdeen, Inverness, Edinburgh, Carmarthen, Leicester, Newport and Newcastle.
Jamie McCullough, corporate relationship director at HSBC UK, said: “Pelican is an ambitious, family-owned business that is leading the way in reducing the environmental impact of public transport. This funding, secured through our dedicated HSBC UK green fund, will support the business in realising its ambitious growth plans and furthering its reach across the UK.”
Pelican Engineering was established in 1919 and has traded continuously since that date. Pelican is a family business, currently managed by the grandson of its founder. Pelican and Yutong supplied 55 electric buses, plus 6 electric coaches, for operation at COP26. This made Pelican and Yutong the biggest contributor of electric buses to be in service at the global climate event in Glasgow last year.
Read next:
Change at the wheel for motorhome manufacturer Auto-Trail as MD announces retirement
Humber 2030 Vision laid before Westminster as COP27 begins
Centrica partners with Hull-based HiiRoc for hydrogen fuel switch trial at Humber power plant
Onshore wind pledge from Sir Keir Starmer as offshore needs heard at Grimsby operations epicentre
