There’s been a buzz around town this year with Reading’s new fleet of electric buses taking to the roads.
The first 24 electric double-deckers started operating on the Reading Buses purple 17 and claret 21 routes in February.
And very soon customers on the yellow 26 service to Calcot will be boarding the latest fleet of eight zero-emission buses.
Last month the Council and Reading Buses received the excellent news that they have secured more government funding for a further 17 electric vehicles, bringing the total number to 49.
Of course, while these are the town’s first battery electric buses, people were travelling around Reading on electric public transport long ago.
This year, we are celebrating 125 years of Reading Buses being in public ownership, after Reading Corporation Tramways took over the private Reading Tramways Company in 1901.
The new owners modernised services with new routes and the introduction of electric trams in 1903. They were replaced by trolleybuses, powered by electricity from overhead wires, in 1939 until being gradually phased out in favour of motorbuses by 1968.
The electric vehicles we have now are, of course, a far cry from those that operated back then.
The new fleet have comfy high-back seats, heating and air-conditioning powered by heat pumps, audio and visual next stop information systems, USB charging points at each seat, seat back phone holders with wireless charging, free WiFi and LED mood lighting.
The buses give a smooth and quiet ride, with zero-emissions, meaning they will carry thousands of people around Reading every day with no nasty fumes.
The Council is also encouraging car owners to switch to electric.
A new initiative was launched in March which offers householders discounted installation of cross-pavement gullies which will allow them to charge their electric vehicles in the street using their home’s electricity supply.
A high proportion of households in Reading do not have off-street parking and are unable to charge an EV at home, so this scheme removes a significant barrier to choosing an electric vehicle. (https://www.kerbocharge.com/locations/reading)
The council has also secured £866k to install around 2,620 public EV charging points across Reading with work due to start later this year.
However you travel, it is excellent that Reading is moving forward with modern, clean transport which is good for the environment and healthier for all of us.
