Brighton Electric buses have officially arrived, bringing a quieter, cleaner and more future-facing way to travel across the city. Brighton & Hove Buses marked the launch of 16 brand-new fully electric double-deckers with a lively community event at Royal Pavilion Gardens, complete with music, performers, families, local leaders and a chance to step aboard the next chapter of the city’s bus network.
The new vehicles will first appear on route 7, one of Brighton and Hove’s key cross-city services, linking people to work, education, healthcare, leisure and the city’s train stations. Each electric bus is expected to save up to 164 tonnes of CO₂ per year, the equivalent of planting 7,450 trees, making this not just a transport upgrade, but a visible step towards cleaner air and a lower-carbon city.
There is also more to these buses than their batteries. Developed with accessibility groups, passenger feedback and lived experience at the heart of the design, the new fleet includes dementia-friendly seating upholstery co-designed with the Alzheimer’s Society Horsham Rusty Brains Dementia Voice Group. It is a reminder that modern public transport is not only about emissions, but about making the city easier, safer and more welcoming for everyone.
As Brighton Museum & Art Gallery hosts The Road to Electric, a new exhibition tracing more than 140 years of Brighton & Hove Buses history, SALT caught up with Nick Hill, Commercial Director of Brighton & Hove Buses, to talk electric travel, accessibility, the future of the city’s routes and what this milestone means for passengers across Brighton and Hove.
To start, can you tell us about the launch of the new electric buses and what this means for Brighton & Hove Buses and the city?
We have 16 new British-built double-decker buses rolling out in Brighton & Hove, currently operating on the route 7. This is part of our ongoing partnership working with Brighton & Hove City Council, through which £2.9 million was secured via the Department for Transport’s ZEBRA 2 fund. A further £7 million was invested by Brighton & Hove Buses and £600K by Brighton & Hove City Council. It is another step in our commitment towards achieving net-zero, cleaner air and more accessible public transport, helping connect communities across our city.
What are the biggest changes passengers can expect to notice with these new buses?
The buses, Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliners (Gen 2), have been designed for passenger comfort and smoother journeys. Much like our hybrid-electric Enviro400 buses already in operation, these new buses also come equipped with comfy seats, a table, social seating, rapid charging points and free Wi-Fi, along with new skylights on the upper deck for an enhanced passenger experience.
They also feature enhanced accessible design, including two wheelchair bays, helping make sustainable travel a more inclusive choice for more people. The livery is an adaptation of our teal and aqua Brighton & Hove Buses brand colours, featuring standout new graphics, including the neon “I am electric” statement on the exterior.
From an environmental perspective, how do these electric buses improve air quality and reduce the city’s carbon footprint?
These buses are fully electric and are equipped with a 442kWh battery pack. They produce zero emissions at the tailpipe, so are an essential part of Brighton & Hove’s journey towards greener transport, reducing carbon emissions and creating cleaner air for everyone in the city.
Will passengers notice a difference in how the buses feel to travel on, for example, are they quieter or smoother than traditional buses?
Yes, these buses are designed to provide smoother and more comfortable journeys, with lower noise levels inside the vehicle compared with traditional diesel buses. Importantly, they also include an external audible alert sound to help blind and partially sighted people know when a bus is approaching.
Accessibility is a big focus. How have these buses been designed to better support passengers with additional needs?
These new bus designs build on accessibility features that have already been shaped through ongoing collaboration. Co-designed with disabled people, representative organisations and manufacturers, and informed by continuous passenger feedback, these buses help create a better and more accessible journey for everyone. Organisations include Alzheimer’s Society, Possability People, Grace Eyre, RNID, Guide Dogs, Thomas Pocklington Trust and local Sight Loss Councils. Accessibility features include two wheelchair bays, dementia-friendly flooring, next-stop audio and visual announcements, induction loops, improved layouts, clearer information, and increased space for mobility aids and buggies.
We’ve heard they are dementia friendly. What specific features have been included to support those living with dementia?
Yes, these buses include a number of dementia-friendly features designed to support confidence, comfort and independent travel. In partnership with Alzheimer’s Society, the flooring was carefully selected to be matt, non-reflective and plain to help reduce visual confusion and create a calmer onboard environment.
They also feature a bespoke seating moquette co-designed with members of the Alzheimer’s Society Horsham Rusty Brains group, incorporating recognisable Brighton landmarks in a calm and carefully considered design that avoids overly busy patterns. We believe this dementia-friendly moquette, developed in partnership with Alzheimer’s Society, is a UK first.
It is another example of how working with lived experience helps create better journeys for everyone.
What kind of training do drivers receive to ensure they can support passengers with dementia or other additional needs?
All of our drivers undertake disability awareness training. This training is shaped through partnership working with disabled people and specialist organisations, ensuring lived experience and co-design is at the heart of what we do.
This includes our Accessible Travel for All programme developed with Possability People, the My Sighted Guide course delivered in partnership with Guide Dogs, Dementia Friends awareness with Alzheimer’s Society, and specialist sight loss awareness training with Thomas Pocklington Trust and local Sight Loss Councils.
We are also very fortunate to work closely with organisations such as Grace Eyre and many others whose ongoing input, through lived experience, helps us continue improving the customer experience for everyone.
Will the introduction of these buses bring any changes to routes or timetables across the network?
There are no planned changes to the network as a result of the new buses.
A question many people will be asking, will fares be affected by the investment in these new buses?
There will be no fare changes or premium fares charged as a result of the electric buses.
Finally, what is the timeline for rolling out the electric buses across all routes in Brighton and Hove?
The 16 new fully electric buses join the 54 extended range electric buses that joined the city’s fleet in recent years and provide zero emissions through the city centre and in areas of poor air quality.
In 2027, a further 29 electric double-deckers will join the city’s bus fleet to fully convert the buses on routes 6 and 46 as well as converting some of the buses on routes 2, 5, 5A, 5B. This is through a further successful partnership with the government’s ZEBRA 2 fund, Brighton & Hove City Council and West Sussex County Council.
We’re in discussions with partners about next steps after that.
For more info and updates you can visit the Brighton and Hove buses website here.
Five things worth knowing — new openings, exhibitions, fashion drops, music releases and travel finds across Brighton, London and the South East. Sent every Saturday.
Just your email — that's all we need.
No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.
