Electric buses flat by mid-afternoon - firm boss

A transport company whose electric buses can only be used until "mid-afternoon" before their batteries run flat has appealed for a council to install charging points.

Paul Critchley, director of Blackburn Private Hire, said his firm had bought two second-hand electric buses and was the first operator in Lancashire to run a regular service using them.

The electric buses are being used between Highercroft and Blackburn town centre - but only while their batteries have sufficient charge because Mr Critchley said there were no charging points on the route.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has been approached for comment.

"The battery only lasts at the moment until mid-afternoon and then we have to bring it off-service and put a diesel back on," Mr Critchley explained.

"But we're hoping to get chargers put into town, which should hopefully last all day."

Mr Critchley said customers and drivers "loved" the electric buses, which can cost about £300,000 to buy when brand new.

He said buying electric buses demonstrated his company's determination to become greener and get on the "zero emissions" ladder.

Elsewhere in Lancashire, significant investment in carbon reduction technologies is planned, thanks in part to funding from the government's Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA2) scheme.

Preston is set to receive 10 new electric buses.

After securing £20m under the same scheme in 2022, Blackpool is likely to see its own electric buses being introduced next year.

Blackpool Transport is due to replace its current fleet with 115 electric buses in coming years.

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