Waverley hoppa Community Transport has reached a significant milestone on its journey to net zero.

The local charity has recently taken delivery of its eighth electric bus which means a quarter of its fleet is now electric. This brings the community transport provider closer to achieving its ambitious target of having half its fleet electric by 2030.

Richard Davies, General Manager at hoppa says: “When you consider that the upfront cost of buying an electric bus is around 30 per cent more than a diesel equivalent, I think that managing to switch 25 per cent of our fleet to electric is quite an achievement.

“That said, it has only been possible to do this because of the support we have received from external supporters for which we are very grateful.”

hoppa’s eight electric vehicles have been generously funded by £34,850 from the UK government through the Rural England Prosperity Fund, the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) which is a charge local authorities set on new development to pay for services such as transport improvements, and Farnham Town Council. Surrey County Council has provided four vehicles and funds were received from trustee Richard Knight who fundraised for hoppa during his year as Captain at Hindhead Golf Club. Contributions have also come from other grant giving organisations such as Community Foundation Surrey, SUEZ, the Co-op and the Shanley Foundation.

Richard Davies adds: “Although we are thrilled to be 25 per cent electric, 2025 marks the next leg of our journey and our quest to get to 50 per cent electric in five years. We’d love to hear from anybody who knows of potential sources of funding for green initiatives or any business that wants to be more visible – our buses are seen by thousands – and to align itself with an initiative that benefits the environment and members of the community.”

Waverley hoppa Community Transport provides door to door transport for people who do not have access to any other means of travel. The service provides a vital lifeline as it enables people to remain independent by being able to shop, participate in social opportunities, and get to essential medical appointments. For more information or to register to use the service, visit www.hoppa.org.uk or call 01428 681701.