First Bus has officially launched its new ‘First Charge’ brand, a new identity for its growing, shared-charging initiative. The programme, which includes 15 First Bus depots in Scotland and England, is designed to open up First Bus’ electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure to support the transition to net zero for businesses, fleet operators, and now for the first time in Glasgow, for the wider public.
First’s Caledonia depot in the city is leading the launch by offering the company’s first in-depot charging to the general public. Located a short distance from Glasgow city centre and supported by on-site staff, the new Caledonia ‘Superhub’ now offers fast charging for consumers as well as business fleets.
First Bus already shares its depot-based charging facilities with businesses across the UK including DPD, Centrica and Openreach as well as Police Scotland, and by opening its depots to third-party EV users through First Charge, the company says it is helping to address a critical gap in charging infrastructure, particularly for commercial operators which need reliable, high-power charging in urban areas.
The company reports that demand is continuing to grow for private and pre-arranged access at First Charge locations, particularly among operators in the rapidly expanding e-HGV sector and other passenger transport services.
First Bus UK Chief Sustainability and Compliance Officer Isabel McAllister said: “At First Bus, we’re progressing rapidly towards our goal of a zero-emission fleet by 2035, with an investment of over £320m to date. With First Charge, we’re building on our position as an industry leader, sharing our infrastructure to accelerate decarbonisation to help other users move faster too.”
