THE West of England’s first repowered vehicles have been unveiled by First Bus in Bath.

The double decker buses are among 27 repowered vehicles arriving in the city, which were once mid-life diesel buses converted into state-of-the-art electric vehicles.

These latest additions to the First Bus fleet will join 17 new electric buses in Bath, with work being completed on the electrification of the Bath depot situated on a piece of land between the River Avon and the Kennett and Avon Canal, making it First Bus’ only island bus depot.

This latest electrification work has been completed with £70-million of investment from First Bus and £20-million of government funding, secured by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.

In total, by spring 2027, around £150-million will have been invested in the region in electric buses and charging infrastructure.

First Bus’ regional director for South and West, Doug Claringbold, said: “We’re excited to welcome our first repowers, demonstrating a real commitment to going even further in our efforts to be more sustainable.

“Our company is committed to operating a fully electric fleet by 2035, with 25 percent of our fleet nationally now electric.

“By the end of this year almost half the West of England’s buses will be electric with about 750,000 of our passengers each week travelling on electric buses making bus travel greener, smoother and quieter for our customers, and contributing to better air quality for our towns and cities.”

Alongside 137 new electric buses, the 27 repowers in Bath will have their engines and gearboxes removed and replaced by batteries with new wiring and additional hardware installed. Some mechanical parts will also be replaced, and the buses’ interior and exterior will be fully refurbished, resulting in what looks like a brand new bus.

Mayor of the West of England, Helen Godwin, said: “This is a big day for Bath & North East Somerset, with the first green buses now at home at the city’s First Bus depot. It’s also a big day for the whole of the West of England, thanks to our first converted electric buses rolling out too.

“By the end of this year, more than 250 green buses will be serving passengers across the West – offering more reliable journeys and a better on-board experience. These better buses will ultimately help cut congestion and pollution as a result of some £150 million of joint investment.”

Cabinet member for sustainable transport delivery at Bath & North East Somerset Council, Cllr Lucy Hodge, said: “The arrival of Bath’s first repowered electric buses is great news for our area and for everyone who relies on buses to get around every day.

“As a council, we are focused on making it easier for people to choose the bus for everyday journeys.

“Investment like this in Bath and North East Somerset helps improve reliability, comfort and accessibility, while supporting a better experience for residents and visitors. It also shows the value of strong partnership working to deliver modern transport that meets the needs of our communities.”