First Bus, one of the UK’s largest bus operators, operates a fleet of over 600 electric buses throughout the UK. Now, under the brand name First Charge, the company will allow businesses, fleet operators and even private EV drivers to share the charging infrastructure at some of its bus depots.
The program will include 15 First Bus depots in Scotland and England, each of which is equipped with high-powered chargers (150 kW to 360 kW). Access arrangements will vary by location, but each site is designed to meet the needs of commercial operators, offering large vehicle-friendly charging bays, secure facilities and competitive pricing.
The first to be opened is the company’s Caledonia depot in central Glasgow, which has charge points available for up to 34 fleet and consumer vehicles at a time. Vehicles can be charged at the depot between 9:00 am and 4:30 pm, and a range of payment options are available.
First Bus is already sharing its depot-based charging facilities with several fleet operators across the UK, including DPD, Centrica, Openreach and Police Scotland. “Demand continues to grow for private and pre-arranged access at First Charge locations, particularly among operators in the rapidly expanding eHGV sector and other passenger transport services,” says the company.
“At First Bus, we’re progressing rapidly towards our goal of a zero-emission fleet by 2035, with an investment of over £320 million to date,” said Isabel McAllister, First Bus UK Chief Sustainability and Compliance Officer. “With First Charge, we’re building on our position as an industry leader, sharing our infrastructure to accelerate decarbonisation to help other users move faster too.”
“When the Scottish Government invested over £6.4 million to fund the charging infrastructure at the Caledonia Depot, it was always the intention that First Bus thought innovatively and collaboratively about how it might be used,” said Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Transport. “Through the new First Charge brand, First Bus is now leading the way by sharing their charging infrastructure, adding to Scotland’s comprehensive public EV charging network.”
Source: First Bus