VEV will also install solar power generation at the depots to harness sunlight during daytime hours in order to reduce Stagecoach's reliance on the national grid for its power. The project has an estimated, predicted lifetime cost saving of more than £1 million for Stagecoach, demonstrating the economic viability of the transition to electric fleets.
In a parallel development, Stagecoach is trialling the use by third parties of the charging infrastructure at its electric bus depot in Aberdeen. The goal is to maximise utilisation of the high-powered DC chargers when buses are out during the day. If successful, the hub will extend to another depot in Aberdeen and one in Perth, totalling 54 charge points.
The chargers will be managed through VEV’s smart charging & digital energy management platform VEV-IQ, which will monitor and optimise power usage and charging scheduling for the charge points. The VEV-IQ software will maximise charger utilisation and the overall efficiency of Stagecoach’s valuable charging assets in the hub.
“We're delighted to support Stagecoach's sustainability goals” said Mike Nakrani, CEO of VEV. “Our collaboration marks a notable step towards sustainable public transport in the UK. By combining innovative technology with strategic infrastructure, we're creating a more environmentally friendly and efficient bus network. The shared charging hub in Scotland highlights the need and potential for cross-sector collaboration to expand sustainable transport options and offset the costs of transitioning to electric for commercial fleet operators. Making the switch from diesel to EV requires careful planning and optimisation to be successful not just at the point of delivery but throughout the lifecycle of the bus. At VEV we recognise these complexities and take a digital and data-first approach to EV fleet operations, which is why we continue to invest heavily in our VEV-IQ platform to develop its data-science capabilities.”
The collaboration between VEV and Stagecoach is also drawing on global best practice with a recent visit to a large 100 percent electric bus operation in Bogotá, Colombia, built by VEV's sister company, VGMobility.
This state-of-the-art facility showcases the full potential of electric bus operations across 3 depots, 400+ buses and 21 360 KW DC superchargers with 8 connectors per charger. The project has not only delivered new, clean, and efficient vehicles but also proved the electrification business case with cost-efficient operations fully financed over 15 years. The VEV-IQ platform is in the process of being installed to the facility.
“The trip to Colombia was extremely useful and I learned a great deal from being there” added Claire Miles, CEO of Stagecoach. “I was particularly impressed by the clean, quiet electrified depot and the scale of the operation. Seeing first-hand the power of digital technology to run a huge 100 percent electric fleet was enlightening. The depth of VEV's expertise in this field was a key draw for Stagecoach, and we're pleased to work with them on our electrification projects, leveraging their global experience to drive our sustainability goals forward.”
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