Bristol, Weston-super-Mare, Minehead, Taunton and Basildon have been earmarked for the developments.
An expansion of an existing deal between First Bus and rapid charging system provider Heliox, the new facilities form part of an £89illion initiative funded by the public transport operator and the UK Government’s Zebra 2 funding programme.
Collectively, the depots will be able to charge more than 190 vehicles simultaneously, making this a big step towards First Bus’ goal of running a fully zero-emission fleet in the coming years. The operator already lays claim to the largest electric bus charging depot, launched in Glasgow before COP26 in 2021, capable of charing 178 vehicles at once.
Since then, a further eight depots have been brought online across the country, with facilities in Scotland and England. Summercourt, in Cornwall, is counted among these, and also allows for vans and cars to be recharged, helping ease the strain on the public charging network.
‘The huge £89m investment from First Bus and support from the ZEBRA 2 funding programme has enabled us to play a vital role in accelerating the transition to electric public transport, particularly in rural areas,’ said Stephen Wood, Heliox Country Manager UK & Ireland. ‘These new charging depots will be instrumental in achieving this goal.’
‘Our partnership with Heliox has enabled us to electrify our depots and introduce cutting-edge electric buses, delivering cleaner air and a better passenger experience,’ added Faizan Ahmad, First Bus’ Decarbonisation Programme Director. ‘As a leader in sustainable transport, we’re committed to working with both central and local governments to support national decarbonisation goals and encourage more people to choose bus travel.’
More transport: