Zero-emission buses now represent a quarter of all new registrations, with the UK achieving the greenest bus fleet in Europe, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has said.

New figures from the body showed that the UK’s bus sector recently posted its fifth consecutive quarter of growth, demonstrating a “gradual return of operator confidence” following sharp decline during the pandemic.

The SMMT also said that the Bus Fare Cap Grant notably stimulated demand – the government-funded scheme introduced a maximum fare of £2 on eligible bus journeys across England (outside London) between 2023 and 2024. The Department for Transport (DfT) introduced the cap to help ease the pressure on people suffering from the cost-of-living crisis and reduce carbon emissions on local journeys.

The new figures showed that more operators made the switch to zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) in recent quarters, with new registrations of the greenest buses up by a third (36.3%) to 424 units during Q2...