ALL ABOARD: Reading’s “climate stripes” electric bus leads the way
The vividly wrapped bus transforms complex climate data into a rolling splash of colour, carrying a powerful environmental message along some of the town’s busiest routes
They are the coloured bands that have come to symbolise the planet’s rising temperatures and now they are rolling through town on the side of a double decker bus.
In a bold and highly visible statement about the climate crisis, Reading Buses has unveiled a brand-new electric vehicle wrapped in the famous Climate Stripes, transforming cutting edge climate science into a moving work of art on the streets of Reading.
The science behind the stripes
The dramatic design, created by climate scientist Ed Hawkins, features a series of coloured stripes that shift from cool blues to deep, intense reds. Each band represents a year of global temperatures, charting more than a century of warming in one simple but powerful image. The effect is stark. The further along the bus you look, the hotter the colours become.
Now, instead of appearing solely in lecture halls, social media posts and climate marches, the stripes will be seen by thousands of commuters every single day as the zero emission bus glides silently through the town centre and surrounding neighbourhoods.
A conversation starter
Far from being just a striking livery choice, the Climate Stripes bus has been designed to spark conversation. Passengers waiting at bus stops are already stopping to stare. Children point at the colours. Adults ask what they mean. The beauty of the stripes lies in their simplicity. There are no complicated graphs or technical jargon, just a visual story that invites people to ask questions about global warming, pollution and what can be done to tackle them.
By placing the design on public transport, Reading Buses is sending a clear message that climate action is not an abstract concept but something that plays out in everyday choices such as how we travel. Every journey taken on the electric bus rather than in a petrol or diesel car becomes part of that story.
The new electric fleet
The Climate Stripes bus forms part of a wider launch of 24 new zero emission electric vehicles, unveiled at the company’s depot on Great Knollys Street. The fleet will operate on some of the town’s busiest 24-hour routes, ensuring the climate message reaches all corners of the borough at all hours of the day and night.
The investment has been backed by Reading Borough Council, which secured Government funding through the Department for Transport ZEBRA scheme to help cover the additional cost of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.
Robert Williams, Reading Buses Chief Executive Officer, said; “I am beyond excited to be launching our first ever battery electric buses at Reading Buses. In addition to being zero emission, they bring a significant improvement in journey quality for our customers onboard.”
Councillor John Ennis, Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport, said: “Not only will they provide passengers with a smooth, comfortable journey, they will be carrying thousands of people around the borough every day without emitting any harmful, polluting fumes.”
As the red stripes blaze against the winter sky and the electric engine hums almost silently beneath, Reading’s newest bus is doing more than carrying passengers. It is carrying a warning, a conversation starter and, perhaps, a glimmer of hope that small local changes can add up to something much bigger.