Oxford 'on way to becoming first all-electric city' in UK

This was said as bus operator Go-Ahead announced plans on Tuesday to invest half-a-billion pounds to build hundreds of UK-made electric buses, funding up to 1,200 new zero-emission buses over the next three years.

The cabinet minister said the Government is aware of the challenges over the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) but Oxford has been identified as an area where this can be accelerated first. 

READ MORE: Archaeologists discover Anglo-Saxon origins of Oxford

Pressed on whether other areas of the country in need of public transport upgrades will benefit from Government plans, she said: “They’re going to [go] all over England”, adding that Oxford is “well on its way to becoming the first all-electric city in the country”.

“Clearly, we’ve got a long way to go to decarbonise the entire fleet across the country, but this is an enormous step in the right direction today,” she said.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh (Image: Danny Lawson/PA) It comes as BMW said last year it would invest £600 million in Mini factories at Oxford and Swindon, with the injection of money aimed at transforming the plant in Cowley to all electric production by 2030.

Meanwhile, all 104 of Oxford Bus Company’s new electric fleet have gone into service as part of its efforts to reduce its carbon footprint in the city, and Oxford Bus Company said this represented a "significant milestone for the city".

The vehicles are used on its city fleets, BROOKESbus service and City Sightseeing Oxford open-top tours, and the first of Stagecoach’s 55 electric buses is due to go into service in the coming weeks.

The Go-Ahead Group, the parent company of Oxford Bus Company has a target to reduce emissions by 75 per cent by 2035 and to become a net-zero company by 2045.

Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus company, said: “Oxford is a shining example of what can be achieved when funding and investment is made and key stakeholders work in partnership for the greater good.

“We’re proud of the progress we have made in Oxford in helping improve air quality via the introduction of zero-emission vehicles, Oxford Bus Company now has 104 electric buses in our fleet and Stagecoach is in the process of rolling out 55, proving the city with one of the largest all-electric bus fleets in the UK.”

Green City councillor Emily Kerr welcomes the investment of electric buses in Oxford.

"I’m delighted to see the investment in electric buses," she told us. 

"They’ve been a key part of Oxford improving its air quality by 14 per cent vs last year, especially in the most polluted places.

"Electric buses are better to ride as a passenger as they’re smoother and less jerky, and I’m told they’re a lot nicer to drive as well."

She added: "Oxford has one of the highest take-ups of EVs in the country, helped by the ZEZ and many businesses and individuals making the switch."

READ MORE: Production of Mini Convertible returns to Oxford plant

However, one Oxford trader said he disagrees with the notion that Oxford is becoming an all-electric city.

"It's simply not true," said Zack Iqbal, owner of Spanner Works garage on Ferry Hinksey Road in Botley. 

His garage in recent years has started selling and repairing micro-electric vehicles. 

"Just because we have got buses that are electric, the vast majority of vehicles are petrol or diesel, and the government doesn't have any incentives for micro mobility," the trader added.

Mr Iqbal said while the buses are electric, the majority of cars on the roads are petrol or diesel.

Zack Iqbal (Image: Newsquest) He is calling for Oxford City Council to install micro-electric charging points in the city centre to help make micro-electric vehicles more usable.

He added it's not the buses causing congestion in Oxford, but rather cars and vans in his opinion. 

Mr Iqbal has previously pushed for more micro-electric vehicles in a city that he described as "gridlocked".

READ MORE: Garage pushes for more micro-electric vehicles in Oxford

In response to this, city councillor Anna Railton, deputy leader and cabinet member for zero carbon Oxford, said: "Oxford City Council is working with various organisations and partners to support the uptake of electric vehicles and installation of infrastructure across the city.

"Working with these groups, the Council's EV strategy outlines how it plans to install electric vehicle charging points in order to meet the needs of all those who live, work, and visit Oxford." 

Local cycling campaign group Cyclox said it would be "delighted" if Oxford was the first all-electric city in the UK. 

"Cyclox welcomes the introduction of electric buses," a spokesperson for Cyclox said. 

"Making our bus network all electric is part of the move to improving air quality and bus reliability, helping people choose alternatives to driving, taking public transport or choosing to cycle or walk.

"We expect the Transport Secretary will be making further announcements on active travel, including better provision for cyclists, and we wish to see Oxford at the forefront of this as well."

Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for transport management said: “The success of Oxford’s electric bus rollout is a great example of what can be achieved when local authorities, bus companies and the government come together.

"We are proud to have led this successful bid with £6m of county council money allied to policies such as traffic filters which will reduce bus journey times. This helped unlock a package worth £82.5m which Oxfordshire is now seeing the benefit of through our new electric buses.

Andrew Gant (Image: Oxfordshire County Council.) “If Oxford becomes the first all-electric city in the country, then that would be incredible. The Oxford programme is already the largest rollout of electric buses in the UK outside of the major regions and is improving our air quality and making the passenger experience more pleasurable.
 
“We are hugely supportive of Go-Ahead’s commitment to electric buses, and are delighted with what we have seen of their investment in Oxford.

"The innovation and resource available from working closely with our partners in the private sector is a key part of this transformational initiative.
 
“It is great that the new government is so keen to support the bus sector and we look forward to working with them on practical proposals. This is an exciting time for buses and active travel in Oxfordshire.”

Coinciding with the announcement from Go-Ahead, the Transport Secretary met bus industry leaders to reiterate the Government’s commitment to supporting the sector.

The Mini plant in Oxford (Image: BMW Group) Asked about the Government’s involvement in the investment deal, Ms Haigh said: “It’s half a billion pounds worth of investments from Go-Ahead, which they’ve been clear is a vote of confidence in this Government’s commitment to buses and to our bus revolution.”

She added: “We’ve made buses one of our top priorities and a commitment to overturn the four decades worth of decline in passenger numbers since the privatisation and deregulation."

Ms Haigh said ministers will announce plans for a consultation on ending the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 after the previous government pushed back the deadline to 2035.

“I think there are challenges with the EV transition – we’re very aware of that, including the lack of certainty that the previous government introduced by moving back the deadline for transition," Ms Haigh said.