Medway Council trials E-buses to tackle climate change

Medway council trialled six electric buses dubbed “e-bus” last week to try and tackle concerns around climate change and promote smart technology.

The 31-seater e-bus is being used on the 170 service between Medway Valley Park and Chatham Waterfront Bus Station . The trial started on the 17th of October and lasted until the 22nd of October.

Conservative Councillor Stuart Tranter in the Environment Committee said: “It’s a small step, electric vehicles, particularly batteries technology have got a little way to go both economically and in terms of performance.

“it’s [e-bus trial] a really useful way to start to explore that technology and hopefully within a few years they would become better and better.”

The six day trial would see the viability of electric buses in Medway with the council also overseeing any infrastructure needed to make the transition from diesel buses to electric should local bus providers and operators show interest in the introduction of the e-bus. 

Hardip Dosanjh, of ASD Coaches, said: “We are excited to be a part of the big change in Medway. This is a positive shift in public transport and demonstrates our commitment to the future of a cleaner environment in and around Medway.”

However, the issue of funding to tackle climate change concerns has kept Medway Labour Leader Vince Maple cautious of the trial run.

He said: “One of the issues we have got is of course funding and I want to see the council far more using different ways of getting funding which might be through regional and national grants, through better use of section 106 money, which is the money we receive as a council from developers.”

The trial is in support of the climate change emergency declared by the full council back in April 2019.

The council is also looking into ways in which they can help advise businesses on small steps and sustainable changes they can make to decrease their carbon emissions.