Electric buses to hit the streets of Tauranga

Electric buses have been planned for Tauranga routes. Photo / File

Tauranga is set to get its first electric bus this August following confirmation from Bayhopper contractor, NZ Bus.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council chief executive Fiona McTavish said in a regional council press release it was the first of five electric buses that would be rolled out across the network.

"We are committed to low carbon public transport. Transportation emissions represent the largest emissions sector for Tauranga City," McTavish said in the release.

NZ Bus Chief Executive Zane Fulljames said the electric buses would be built in China by preferred supplier Alexander Dennis, the company that built Auckland city's first two electric commuter buses.

McTavish said the regional council was still looking forward to having electric buses in Tauranga later this year, but in the meantime there was plenty of other work to be done to keep improving the Tauranga bus network.

"We will continue to work with our partners – and our community – to ensure that our public transport network is running as efficiently and effectively as possible, as soon as possible," she said.