Heliox and First Bus to deliver electric bus charging depots for rural services

Rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging systems provider Heliox, and bus operator First Bus have announced they will develop five new electric bus charging depots located in Bristol, Weston-super-Mare, Minehead, Taunton, and Basildon. Funding is provided by £89m from First Bus and the Government's ZEBRA 2 funding programme.

The announcement builds on the successful partnership between Siemens owned Heliox and First Bus, which developed the UK's largest electric bus depot (capable of charging 178 vehicles simultaneously) ahead of the COP26 summit in Glasgow, Scotland in 2021. 

Since then, the two companies have continued to work together to deliver a network of nine operational electric bus charging depots across Scotland and England. The partnership has implemented cutting-edge cable management solutions, particularly in the use of remote-controlled overhead gantries – ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable charging operations while minimising loss of parking.

The Summercourt charging hub in Cornwall has also set an interesting precedent as one of the country’s first dual-purpose charging depots that not only serves First Bus's electric fleet, but also offers electric charging to local businesses – making EV charging more accessible to the wider community.

Stephen Wood, Heliox Country Manager UK & Ireland said, “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with First Bus on their journey towards a zero-emission fleet. The huge £89m investment from First Bus and support from the ZEBRA 2 funding programme has enabled us to play a vital role in accelerating the transition to electric public transport, particularly in rural areas. These new charging depots will be instrumental in achieving this goal.”

Faizan Ahmad, Decarbonisation Programme Director, First Bus added, “Our partnership with Heliox has enabled us to electrify our depots and introduce cutting-edge electric buses, delivering cleaner air and a better passenger experience. We're committed to working with both central and local governments to support national decarbonisation goals and encourage more people to choose bus travel.” 

First Bus’s £89 million investment will see 178 new electric buses deployed across four regions, supporting rural communities and inter-urban routes. The initiative is further accelerated by a £16 million grant secured through the UK Government’s ZEBRA 2 scheme in partnership with local authorities.