Guidance

Apply for zero emission bus funding (ZEBRA 2)

Information for local transport authorities on how to apply for ZEBRA 2 bus funding.

Applies to England

Documents

Grant funding per bus score calculator

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Details

The Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) 2 scheme will provide £129 million to support the introduction of zero emission buses (ZEBs) in financial years 2023 to 2024 and 2024 to 2025. This will be a single-stage funding competition to award funding over both financial years.

This guidance provides information for local transport authorities on:

  • funding eligibility
  • application timescale
  • how to apply
  • the assessment process

You should read this guidance alongside guidance on using the greener bus tool.

List of LTAs that have submitted expressions of interest

As part of the application process for the ZEBRA 2 scheme, the Department for Transport (DfT) requested that local transport authorities (LTAs) notified DfT of their intention to apply.

An expression of interest (EOI) consisted of an email to DfT that outlined the LTA’s intention to submit a completed application form and supporting documentation by 15 December 2023.

As part of the application process, LTAs will need to complete detailed governance and discussions with local operators. It is unlikely that all LTAs who have expressed an interest at this early stage of the process will go on to submit a full proposal.

No financial commitments were required from an LTA as part of the EOI process. 

DfT has received 58 EOIs, which are listed in the document on this page.

Updates to this page

Published 8 September 2023
Last updated 20 November 2023 + show all updates
  1. Corrected error in grant funding per bus score calculator spreadsheet.

  2. Minor correction to application marking criteria plus list of local transport authorities that have submitted an expression of interest added.

  3. First published.

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