Heliox, a leading provider of fast-charging systems for electric vehicles (EVs), and First Bus, one of the largest bus operators in the United Kingdom (UK), announce a significant expansion of their collaboration with the development of five new electric bus depots.
These depots will be strategically located in Bristol, Weston-super-Mare, Minehead, Taunton, and Basildon, made possible by an 89 million pounds investment from First Bus and support from the UK Government’s ZEBRA 2 funding programme.
The announcement builds on the successful partnership between Heliox and First Bus, which introduced the UK’s largest electric bus depot (capable of charging 178 vehicles simultaneously) ahead of the COP26 summit held in Glasgow (Scotland) in 2021.
Since then, the two companies have continued to work together to create a network of nine electric bus charging stations 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 in the bus sector and provides public access to fast-charging infrastructure for electric cars and vans.
“The massive 89 million pounds investment by First Bus and the support from the ZEBRA 2 funding programme have allowed us to play a vital role in accelerating the transition to electric public transport, especially in rural areas,” says Stephen Wood, UK & Ireland Country Manager for Heliox.
“These new charging depots will be critical in achieving this goal,” he adds.
“Our partnership with Heliox has enabled us to electrify our depots and introduce state-of-the-art electric buses, providing cleaner air and a better passenger experience,” states Faizan Ahmad, First Bus’s Decarbonisation Programme Director.
He continues: “As leaders in sustainable transport, we are committed to working with central and local governments to support national decarbonisation targets and encourage more people to choose the bus.”
First Bus’s 89 million pounds investment will deploy 178 new electric buses across four regions.
This initiative is further accelerated by a 16 million pounds grant secured through the UK Government’s ZEBRA 2 programme, in collaboration with local authorities.
The latest round of funding allows First Bus to expand its electric bus network alongside Heliox, bringing the benefits of cleaner air and reduced emissions to both rural communities and intercity routes.
Innovative Charging Infrastructure
Heliox and First Bus have worked 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 provide 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 solutions for cable management with remote-controlled overhead gantries, ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable charging operations at their depots.
The use of overhead gantries minimises parking losses and allows the cables to be automatically lowered to the vehicles.
Combined Impact
With a combined capacity to charge more than 190 vehicles simultaneously, these five new depots will play a crucial role in First Bus’s journey towards a zero-emission fleet.
Once completed, Heliox and First Bus will have collaborated on 14 electric bus charging stations.
First Bus will have around 800 electric buses upon completion of these projects, marking a significant step towards the company’s commitment to operate a zero-emission bus fleet by 2035.
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