First Bus is now able to fully charge buses in its electric fleet in just four hours following the completion of Phase One of its EV charging hub in Glasgow.
The company’s Caledonia bus depot has had 11 advanced rapid 150kW dual cable charging units installed ahead of the arrival of a new batch of 22 electric buses.
The dual cable direct current rapid charging units have been supplied, installed and commissioned by Dutch rapid charging business Heliox.
Each rapid charging station will be controlled via smart charging software to ensure that power is used in the most efficient way.
Phased completion for the remainder of the work is scheduled to take place across the next 12 months.
It has been designed to accommodate and charge up to 300 EV buses on site and will see the introduction of 150 electric buses over the next 18 months.
With an additional 69 rapid chargers to be installed in Phase Two, Caledonia depot will soon be able to charge 162 vehicles at one time.
Janette Bell, Managing Director for First Bus UK said: “Innovative technology and electric infrastructure are key to minimising the UK’s carbon emissions, and so it’s fantastic to see this first step of our vision for the UK’s largest EV bus depot come to fruition.
“Our transition to a zero emission fleet is a bold ambition and, at every stage, First Bus is committed to transforming our business for the good of the environment.”
