Cornwall’s first electric bus has taken to the streets of Falmouth, boosting the town’s shuttle service fleet and helping to cut carbon emissions.
Run by local operator OTS as part of the Transport for Cornwall partnership, the 18-seater zero emission bus offers passengers a quieter and smoother drive.
It’s the first of a host of new electric buses which will be taking to Cornwall’s roads over the coming months. Six new buses will cover Go Cornwall Bus’s Route 70 on the Rame Peninsula from late June and the entire Truro Park and Ride fleet will be replaced with electric buses from October 2025.
Dan Rogerson, Cornwall Council cabinet member for transport, said:
“Our buses rack up the miles over the years and with almost a quarter of Cornwall’s carbon emissions coming from road transport, we want to reduce our impact on our environment wherever we can.
“Falmouth’s bus is just the start and work is progressing on putting in the infrastructure to run services in the Rame Peninsula and Truro city centre. It’s a step in the right direction and we’ll be looking for further funding opportunities to bring more electric buses to Cornwall.”
Cornwall Council successfully bid for £1.3m from the Government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) 2 Fund towards the infrastructure and buses for the Truro Park & Ride and Falmouth town service with the Council committing a further £2.18m. Bus operator OTS and Falmouth Town Council have also supported the bid to bring an electric bus to the town, committing £105,000 and £5,000 respectively.
Local transport minister, Simon Lightwood, said:
“I’m thrilled that communities across Cornwall will soon benefit from greener, cleaner bus services thanks to the Government’s £1.3 million funding package. This includes a brand-new ecofriendly bus for Falmouth and a complete upgrade of the Truro park and ride service.
“With the upcoming Bus Services Bill, passengers can look forward to more reliable journeys, greater local control, and the protection of essential routes. Investing in better buses not only supports jobs and strengthens the economy, but it also helps us build a more sustainable future as we deliver the Plan for Change.”
Craig George, from OTS, said:
“We are very excited to bring Cornwall's first electric bus to our service 60 in Falmouth, especially as the route operates directly through the bustling town centre.
“It has been a really positive experience to work with Cornwall Council, Falmouth Town Council and the Department for Transport who proactively share our vision to deliver cleaner buses for the benefit of all in our local community. To deliver the first vehicle in service to come from this larger partnership project is simply the icing on the cake and we're very proud to be leading the charge towards the future of bus travel.“
Councillor Alan Jewell, Falmouth town mayor, said:
“The arrival of Falmouth’s first electric bus is a welcome step forward and forms part of a wider set of green initiatives we’ve supported as a Town Council. It’s a practical investment that will contribute to reducing emissions and improving air quality in the town.
“We’re pleased to have worked alongside Cornwall Council and OTS to help deliver this project, and we remain committed to making sensible, long-term improvements for the benefit of residents and visitors.”
Funding for the Rame Peninsula service formed part of a wider £31.87m ZEBRA 2 funding bid from Plymouth City Council and Plymouth Citybus, part of the Go-Ahead group. Cornwall Council and Plymouth City Council have contributed £1.94m, Plymouth Citybus £19.6m and the Department for Transport £10.34m.
Story posted June 20, 2025