The amount of carbon dioxide released by diesel-fulled buses in Caerphilly town will be cut by around 572 tonnes a year when they are replaced by electric powered ones.

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s deputy leader Sean Morgan said the introduction of 16 new electric buses would be a positive step towards improving clean, green public transport.

The new electric single-decker buses are expected to go into service later this year.

The council says the new electric bus fleet will reduce annual CO2 by more than 572 tonnes compared to diesel buses.

Cllr Morgan said: “We are working with partners to develop Caerphilly into a green transport hub, with a 16 vehicle fleet of zero emission electric buses earmarked for Caerphilly in 2020 and with ambitions for Caerphilly town to have the first fully-electric public transport hub in Britain.”

“The EV charging points, electric buses and plans for an electric bus-train interchange come on top of this Labour administration’s climate emergency pledge which has an ambitious target for Caerphilly County Borough Council to become a net zero carbon local authority by 2030.

“This council does not take short term, sticking plaster decisions. We understand the pressing need for change and our decision-making process always considers the Welsh Government’s forward thinking Well Being of Future Generations Act.”

The council has also recently approved a new electric vehicle strategy for the county borough, which outlines plans to provide new electric vehicle infrastructure.

The buses, which will be operated by Stagecoach, are being funded by a £2.9 million grant from the UK Government. Stagecoach will invest a further £3.6m into the scheme.

The £6.5m “ground-breaking” project, announced last year, is supported by Caerphilly County Borough Council, the Cardiff Capital Region Transport Authority, and Welsh Government.

Alongside the planned electrification of the railways, due for completion in 2023, Caerphilly town could be the first fully-electric public transport hub in Britain.

• Caerphilly County Borough Council is also set to get £250,000 for bus stop improvements through a Welsh Government grant. The government is investing £22.6m in 21 projects across 15 local authorities as part of the Local Transport Network Fund and the Local Transport Fund.

• Additional reporting by the Local Democracy Service.