UK delivery company, DPD has become the first company to sign up to First Bus’s charging scheme at its Caledonia Depot in Glasgow.
At COP26, First Bus announced it would offer local businesses the use of its extensive electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure at its Caledonia Depot when it opened, which it did in May 2022.
DPD UK is the first company to officially sign up to this scheme, meaning that DPD drivers will now have access to the site to charge their electric vehicles in Glasgow. This will enable them to travel greater distances in electric vehicles while making deliveries.
This arrangement will increase the utility of First Bus’s charging hub while its own electric fleet is out in service.
Graeme Macfarlan, Commercial Director at First Bus, said:The partnership with DPD reflects the commitment we made during COP26 to help other businesses to achieve their green ambitions. 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. Reducing carbon emissions is a priority for us – not just to meet our own targets but because we’re committed to delivering cleaner, greener journeys for Glasgow. We’re already in conversation with other businesses and look forward to announcing further partnerships in the near future.
First Bus’s Caledonia Depot has 160 rapid-charging points as a stepping stone towards switching to an all-electric fleet by by 2035.
First Bus collaborated with Hitachi ZeroCarbon to provide the systems that will enable commercial vehicles to be charged at the site alongside its electric buses.
Minister for Transport, Jenny Gilruth, said:We all have to work together to end our contribution to climate change, and by making its charging infrastructure available to DPD UK, First Bus are leading the way.
The Scottish Government provided over £5.9 million to help deliver the infrastructure at the depot, and I am delighted that it is being used to support decarbonisation of last mile delivery as well as public transport.
Initially, eight DPD EVs will access the Caledonia site as part of a trial period. This number is then expected to be increased to help support DPD’s growing EV fleet in the city, which is planned to total approximately 200 electric vans by the end of 2023.
First Bus is continuing to expand its electric bus fleet and electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Scotland. Over the next 18 months, its Scotstoun and Aberdeen depots will be electrified, offering potential for additional partnerships.
