The depots have been made possible thanks to an £89 million investment from First Bus and supported by the UK Government's ZEBRA 2 funding programme.
The announcement builds on the successful partnership between Heliox and First Bus, unveiling the UK's largest electric bus depot (capable of charging 178 vehicles simultaneously) ahead of the COP26 summit in Glasgow, Scotland in 2021.
Since then, the two companies have continued to work together to deliver a network of nine operational electric bus charging depots across Scotland (Glasgow Caledonia, Glasgow Scotstoun and Aberdeen) and England (York, Leeds Bramley, Leicester, Norwich, Portsmouth Hoeford, and Summercourt Cornwall). In Summercourt (Cornwall), the charging hub is the first-of-its-kind for the bus industry, providing direct access for the public to rapid charging infrastructure for electric cars and vans.
“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with First Bus on their journey towards a zero-emission fleet” said Stephen Wood, Heliox Country Manager UK & Ireland. “The huge £89 million 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. These new charging depots will be instrumental in achieving this goal.”
First Bus’s £89 million investment will see 178 new electric buses deployed across four regions. This initiative is further accelerated by a £16 million grant secured through the UK Government’s ZEBRA 2 scheme in partnership with local authorities. The latest round of funding allows First Bus to expand its electric bus network together with Heliox, bringing the benefits of clean air and reduced emissions to both rural communities and inter-urban routes.
“These projects mark another significant milestone in our commitment to a zero-emission bus fleet across the UK” added Faizan Ahmad, Decarbonisation Programme Director, First Bus. “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. 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.”
Heliox and First Bus have collaborated closely to design their depots as innovative, dual-purpose facilities that optimise space efficiency. These depots not only serve First Bus's electric fleet, but also offer electric charging to local businesses – making EV charging more accessible to the wider community.
As pioneers in electric bus depot infrastructure, the partnership has also implemented cutting-edge cable management solutions with remote-controlled overhead gantries – ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable charging operations at their depots. The use of overhead gantries minimises any loss of parking and allows cables to be lowered automatically to the vehicles. By sharing infrastructure and adopting advanced technologies, First Bus is leading the way in creating sustainable transportation solutions.
With a combined capacity to charge over 190 vehicles simultaneously, these five new depots will play a crucial role in First Bus's journey towards a zero-emission fleet.
Upon their opening, Heliox and First Bus will have collaborated on 14 electric bus charging depots. First Bus will have around 800 electric buses on completion of these projects – marking a huge step in the company’s pledge to operate a fully zero-emission bus fleet by 2035.
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