A collaboration has been announced that will see energy company Centrica secure access to First Bus’ rapid EV charging infrastructure at bus depots nationwide.
The initial phase will enable Centrica to charge a selection of its EV fleet at First Bus’ Leicester depot while buses are out on the road in service.
This will allow Centrica engineers to cover more ground, reduce their environmental impact, and dedicate more time to the needs of their customers.
The partnership also has the potential to extend to other depots across the bus operator’s UK infrastructure in the future.
Centrica joins the likes of Openreach, DPD and Police Scotland, plugging into this shared infrastructure initiative from First Bus.
The company currently runs more than 3,000 EVs but is aiming to make its entire fleet zero-emission by 2030.
Rob Simister, Director of Fleet Operations at Centrica, said: “Our engineers carry out important work for our customers up and down the country every single day, and it’s their vehicles that get them where they need to be.
“As we continue to electrify our fleet, we’re always looking for innovative ways to address some of the operational challenges that comes with such a large transition.
“This partnership with First Bus will mean we’re more effective at getting to our customers, while speeding up the rollout of our electric vehicles.”
Faizan Ahmad, Decarbonisation Programme Director at First Bus, said: “We’re excited about this collaboration, showcasing the power of teamwork to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality in the communities we serve.”
