For several years, a rainbow-striped double-decker powered by biogas has been a familiar sight on Bristol’s roads, wrapped in the colours of the Progress pride flag and emblazoned with the slogan “Love Wins”. That bus, run by First West of England, was added permanently to the fleet in July 2021 – originally meant to debut at that summer’s in-person Bristol Pride march, it launched anyway after the parade was cancelled due to ongoing COVID-19 safety measures, keeping the celebratory spirit alive.

Now the operator is taking the tradition into a new era with a brand‑new electric Pride bus. Set to hit the streets very soon, the “Pride In The West of England” vehicle sports a green base and the Progress pride flag’s rainbow colours on its side, marking the latest chapter in the company’s commitment to year‑round diversity and inclusion.

The shift comes as part of a massive push towards zero‑emission transport across the region. First Bus is allocating 116 brand‑new electric buses directly to Bristol’s Lawrence Hill depot, alongside so‑called “repowered” electric buses – mid‑life diesel double‑deckers that have been completely stripped down and rebuilt with Wrightbus battery‑electric drivelines. To power these vehicles, the Hengrove depot has been heavily upgraded with overhead charging gantries to support 74 of them, while work is finishing on electrifying the Lawrence Hill site to handle the bulk of the new fleet.

Passengers can already ride these quiet, zero‑emission models on major local services including routes 8, 24, 70, 72, 73, 75 and 76. A noticeable feature inside the newer fleet is vibrant interior mood lighting that changes colours, shifting the atmosphere depending on the time of day. Rather than scrapping older vehicles, First Bus is partnering with NewPower to remove diesel engines and gearboxes, install advanced wiring, and carry out full interior and exterior refurbishments – giving older assets the look and feel of brand‑new electric buses.

To mark the West of England rollout, First Bus teamed up with Pelican Engineering and Carma to plant 1,000 trees across the region – pledging ten trees for every new electric vehicle supplied. The arrival of the electric Pride bus continues the operator’s tradition of supporting the city’s LGBTQ+ community, but now with a fully sustainable powertrain.