E-fleet solutions provider VEV has installed high-powered smart charging and energy infrastructure to support the rollout of eleven fully electric buses at the Kinchbus depot in Loughborough.
The project forms part of an £8 million investment by Kinchbus to begin the electrification of its fleet, which will see 22 new electric buses enter service in March.
Once fully deployed, the electric fleet is expected to require up to 1.4GWh of electricity per year, all managed through VEV’s intelligent charging and energy management platform, VEV-IQ.
As part of the depot upgrade, VEV is also working to install 53kWp of on-site solar PV, which is expected to generate about 44MWh of renewable electricity per year.
All charging activity will be intelligently managed to prioritise lower-cost, off-peak electricity while actively limiting demand during peak grid-stress periods, particularly between 4pm and 9pm.
Barry Keane, Business Development Manager at VEV, said, “Kinchbus Loughborough demonstrates how smart charging, on-site generation and digital control can come together to support reliable, cost-effective zero-emission bus operations from day one.
“By combining infrastructure delivery with real-time optimisation through VEV-IQ, we’re helping operators electrify with confidence while minimising cost and reducing pressure on the electricity grid.”
Tom Morgan, Managing Director at Kinchbus, said, “This is a huge milestone for public transport in Loughborough.
“It’s a green new dawn for the town, with zero emissions from quieter, smoother and more reliable journeys.
“Kinchbus customers can be proud and excited to be part of the future of bus travel, enjoying a next-level experience of comfort and convenience while supporting sustainable public transport that benefits both the climate and local air quality.”
