First Bus, one of the UK’s largest bus operators, and Centrica, the international energy and services company, are today announcing a major new partnership. The collaboration will see Centrica secure access to First Bus’ rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure at bus depots nationwide.
This deal sees Centrica join the ranks of Openreach, DPD and Police Scotland, plugging into this shared infrastructure initiative from First Bus.
The initial phase of the partnership will enable Centrica to charge a selection of its EV fleet at First Bus’ Leicester depot while buses are out on the road in service. This allows Centrica engineers to cover more ground, reduce their environmental impact, and dedicate more time to the needs of their customers. The partnership then has the potential to extend to further depots across the bus operator’s UK infrastructure in the future.
As an industry leader in the decarbonisation space, First Bus is harnessing its EV infrastructure to help support local communities and businesses to reach their environmental aspirations. This commitment also aligns with the commitment to achieve a zero-emission bus fleet by 2035.
The partnership officially launched at First Bus’ Leicester depot with a visit from Department for Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood MP, who joined representatives from First Bus and Centrica to highlight the critical role the electric vehicle infrastructure will play in reducing emissions and promoting sustainable transport.
Centrica currently has more than 3000 electric vehicles in its fleet but is aiming to convert all its diesel vehicles to zero-emissions by 2030.
Faizan Ahmad, Decarbonisation Programme Director at First Bus, said, “We’re excited about this collaboration, showcasing the power of teamwork to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality in the communities we serve. The shift to electric is a journey for businesses nationwide, and we are offering a smart, community-friendly solution that’s simple, effective and benefits everyone.”
Rob Simister, Director of Fleet Operations at Centrica, said, “Our engineers carry out important work for our customers up and down the country every single day, and it’s their vehicles that get them where they need to be. As we continue to electrify our fleet, we’re always looking for innovative ways to address some of the operational challenges that comes with such a large transition. This partnership with First Bus will mean we’re more effective at getting to our customers, while speeding up the rollout of our electric vehicles. That’s good news for the country, our colleagues, and our customers.”
Minister for the Future of Roads, Lilian Greenwood said, “It’s fantastic to see this partnership between First Bus and Centrica to help engineers in making the switch to electric.
“This Government is supporting more and more people to make the move to zero emission vehicles. Whether charging at home, in public, or in depots like this – we’re dedicated to making charging as easy as possible, with £200m announced in the Budget to further boost infrastructure across the country.”
