First Bus has completed the rapid EV charging hub at its Glasgow depot allowing 150 electric buses to be charged there at one time.
The Caledonia depot, located in Glasgow’s southside, has had 160 rapid-charging points installed over the last nine months and the company is trialling the use of its charging infrastructure to third-party businesses during the day when its buses are out on service.
First Bus also plans to expand the depot, in partnership with Ofgem and Scottish Power Energy Networks, by constructing a new substation.
This will supply enough power to host an extra 200 vehicles and charging points.
First Glasgow’s Caledonia Depot bus fleet will be 50% electric by December 2022 when it takes delivery of a further 52 electric buses – the city currently has 98 electric buses.
The depot’s new rapid-charging stations can fully charge a bus in four hours if required and will be controlled via smart-charging software.
This will ensure that power is used in the most efficient way – minimising the draw-down from the National Grid at peak times.
First Bus plans to replicate this model across many more sites as part of its ambition to be emission-free by 2035.
Janette Bell, First Bus Managing Director, said, “This inspiring project has seen the depot transformed into one of the biggest EV rapid charging hubs of its kind anywhere. To deliver a project of this scale is a magnificent achievement for all the teams involved.
“Caledonia Depot is now our pathfinder project as we roll-out electric vehicles at scale across the rest of the UK and marks a very exciting turning point for both our people and our customers.”
