Greater Manchester has reached a milestone in its public transport electrification, with the Bee Network now operating 500 battery-electric buses. These vehicles account for nearly 30 per cent of the total fleet. The network, which launched in 2023, currently serves 99 routes exclusively with electric buses.
The regional transport authority, Transport for Greater Manchester, secured £59.1 million in funding at the end of 2025 to procure 220 additional electric buses. Furthermore, approximately 160 more units are currently on order. This expansion is supported by the electrification of depots, with work completed at Hyde Road and Oldham, and new infrastructure installed in Ashton, Bolton, and Middleton.
The transition aims to achieve a fully electric fleet by 2030, which is expected to reduce annual CO2 emissions by over 76,000 tonnes and nitrogen oxides by 280 tonnes. Three years ago, the region operated only 35 electric buses. To manage rising energy demands, the operator has signed a long-term clean energy agreement to secure renewable electricity at fixed prices.
