A fleet of electric double-decker buses are set to hit the streets of Nottingham thanks to funding from the East Midlands Combined County Authority.
Nottingham City Transport (NCT) has ordered 13 Yutong vehicles which are set to enter service in late 2026, marking the start of electrification of its double-decker fleet, thanks to £4.5 million of funding from the East Midlands authority (EMCCA).
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “I am delighted to support the roll-out of electric buses onto our roads.
“This is a huge step forward in my push for sustainable, low-carbon travel, to make our streets cleaner, greener and safer.
“I look forward to seeing the vehicles in action next year and I’m sure passengers will enjoy the positive difference they are going to make to public transport in the region.”
NCT will be one of the first UK operators to introduce Yutong’s updated U11DD battery-electric model, which boasts higher capacity batteries ideal for city networks throughout their lifetime.
NCT said the order, via UK dealer Pelican, followed “a rigorous assessment and trial of several double-deckers”.
The order for electric double-decker buses marks a major milestone in NCT’s transition to a zero-emission fleet as it follows completion of NCT’s rollout of 62 electric single-deckers following the delivery of the final 14 buses.
The £30m project was supported by £12.3m from the Department for Transport’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme, supported by Nottingham City Council, and £17.7 million invested by NCT.
Since entering operation, NCT’s electric single-deck fleet has already travelled more than 3.6m kilometres across Nottingham — the equivalent of making nine trips to the moon, or almost 90 times around the Earth. The buses – manufactured by Yutong and finished to NCT’s specification by Yorkshire-based Pelican Engineering – have also regenerated more than 2.1m kWh of energy, significantly reducing overall energy consumption.
David Astill, NCT Managing Director, said: “The roll-out of our 62 electric single-deck buses marks a major milestone for NCT as we transition to a zero-emission fleet. I am grateful to all the team here at NCT for completing the project on time and on budget.
“Our attention will now turn to the double-deck fleet and I am pleased to confirm we have placed an initial order for 13 electric double-decker buses which will be delivered in autumn next year”
Ian Downie, head of Yutong UK at Pelican Bus and Coach, said: “The performance of our single-decks has demonstrated our vehicles are at the vanguard of reliable and efficient zero emission buses, with fantastic feedback from passengers and drivers. It is a testament to the service we provide that NCT have honoured Pelican with an additional 13 electric double-decks.
“The NCT team has been instrumental in designing the revised UK double decker and we are really looking forward to NCT being the first operator of the full-height vehicle in the UK.”
The order for electric double-decker buses follows the announcement of EMCCA’s Local Authority Bus Grant. The authority has been awarded £65.5m to support bus services in the ways which work best for the region. This could include lowering fares, adding new routes, rolling out zero-emission buses, or upgrading bus stops to make them safer and easier to use.
EMCCA has been awarded £21,848,207 in each of 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29 – a total of £65,544,621 to be spent across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire over the next three years.
The order for electric double-decker buses also comes in the midst of Mayor Claire’s Big Transport Conversation, asking local people for their views on how to make transport in the East Midlands easier to use, cleaner, and better connected.
Buses are a key focus, with plans to make services more reliable, affordable, and accessible, while improving stops and routes to better connect communities. The 15-year vision also tackles congestion, air pollution, and safer, greener travel, ensuring everyone in the East Midlands has easy, reliable ways to get around by 2040.
The Mayor’s Big Transport Conversation is running until 8 February 2026 – have your say on the transport network you want to see here.