Electric bus trial to help reduce emissions

An electric bus will be serving some routes on the Isle of Man as part of moves to reduce carbon emissions.

A 25-seat single-decker is set to travel through Manx towns carrying passengers until 19 April, following similar tests in 2023 and and 2024.

A Bus Vannin spokesman said its time on the island would be spent analysing how the terrain "affects the battery technology available within this type of vehicle".

The trial was part of a "continued evaluation of alternative fuel options and zero exhaust emissions" by the Department of Infrastructure (DOI), he said.

The visit by the Alexander Dennis Enviro 100 has been provided for trial at no cost to Bus Vannin, the spokesman confirmed.

He said the model, which was smaller and lighter than previous vehicles trialled on-island, had not been tested on Manx roads before.

The all-electric vehicle is set to be driven on "as many different routes as possible during the period" and the testing would "help build a wider knowledge base for Bus Vannin to understand what options could be available" in future, he added.

Testing in February 2023 included the vehicle carrying sandbags in place of people.

Later that year the department ran passenger services on two buses, one single-decker and one double-decker, during the 2023 TT festival.

In 2024, another model was tested for its suitability for the island's roads.

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