SCOTLAND'S first diesel-electric hybrid buses have been introduced in Edinburgh, the first sign of a £4.4 million Government investment in the green technology bearing fruit.

Council-owned transport firm Lothian Buses yesterday unveiled 15 double-decker vehicles, which cut fuel use and carbon dioxide emissions by 30%.

A further 33 hybrid buses have been ordered, mostly by Stagecoach and First Glasgow, with help from the Scottish Green Bus Fund, which provides grants to make up the price difference with standard buses.

Lothian’s 15 hybrids were purchased in a £5m deal with Falkirk-based manufacturer Alexander Dennis, £1m of which came from the Scottish Government.

Ian Craig, managing director of Lothian Buses, said: “The new hybrid fleet is part of our commitment and investment to combat air pollution and to offer our passengers a low-carbon public transport option.

“Our buses already deliver significant emissions savings. However, the new fleet is a lower-carbon and lower-emission solution that will make further contribution to reducing emissions in Edinburgh.”

Transport Minister Keith Brown said: “The launch of this fleet, and others like it, will further reduce transport emissions and help Scotland take another step towards a low-carbon economy, as well as taking us closer to meeting Scotland’s world-leading targets to decarbonise almost all road transport by 2050.

“It is a great example of the Scottish Government working in partnership with bus industry to promote greener travel.”

However, environmental transport group Transform Scotland said the 48 hybrid buses introduced through the Green Bus Fund were “not enough and too slow” and that funding should be diverted from major road projects such as the Aberdeen bypass to ensure more could be purchased.