First Bus will give electric van drivers at delivery firm DPD access to rapid charging points at its Glasgow depot.
As part of an initial trial period, eight battery electric vans based at DPD’s Cambuslang depot in the city will be allowed to charge at First Bus’s nearby Caledonia facility.
This number is expected to increase to support DPD’s growing EV fleet in the city, which is planned to reach 200 electric vans by the end of next year.
Located on Glasgow’s southside, the depot has 160 rapid charging points as part of First Bus’s plan to become emissions free by 2035.
The bus operator has worked closely with Hitachi ZeroCarbon to provide DC ultra-rapid charging Plug and Charge systems designed for commercial vehicles.
DPD plans to carry out deliveries in Glasgow and Edinburgh city centres using only electric vehicles by the end of next year.
First Bus is discussing charging opportunities with other businesses and is looking to announce further partnerships in the near future.
Graeme Macfarlan, Commercial Director at First Bus, said: “We hope that this marks the first of many valuable partnerships and demonstrates the power that comes from working together to reduce carbon emissions.
“Electrifying fleets, and having the infrastructure in place to support them, is a mammoth undertaking, and it simply isn’t feasible for each and every business to build its own charging station.”
Olly Craughan, Head of Sustainability at DPD UK, said: “The partnership will be hugely beneficial as it will enable our drivers to access fast, reliable and secure charging stations in Glasgow during the day.”
