Electric buses withdrawn in Glasgow over safety fears
Bus operator First Bus has withdrawn 30 buses in Glasgow after “technical failures”. The BBC reports that the issue was raised in December with affected vehicles now temporarily replaced by ultra-low emission diesel buses from across the UK. The report says the buses were part of an order of 50 in 2023, with batteries designed […]
Wrightbus’ NewPower to convert 32 First Bus vehicles to electric drives
Wrightbus’ new enterprise, NewPower, has secured its first order to repower 32 First Bus vehicles. With this enterprise, Wrightbus is the first OEM to offer a repowering service to convert diesel buses into electric vehicles. This initiative can help accelerate decarbonisation by removing diesel powertrains at a significantly lower price than purchasing a new bus. […]
First Bus opens public EV charging facility
The UK’s first bus depot to offer consumer electric vehicle (EV) charging is now open to the public, at First Bus’ new purpose-built hub at Summercourt depot in Cornwall. The Summercourt charging hub is the first-of-its-kind for the bus industry, providing direct access for the public to rapid electric charging infrastructure for electric cars and […]
First electric buses hit the road in Portsmouth, Fareham and Gosport
The first new electric buses from First Bus South, operator of First Bus Solent, have entered service in Portsmouth, Fareham and Gosport, ushering in the region’s first zero-emissions buses. They are the first of 62 buses which will be rolled over the coming weeks for passengers on a range of routes. The company says the […]
First Bus partners on suicide prevention
New research has found people at risk of suicide are increasingly using buses to travel to the place they plan to take their lives to avoid being detected by emergency services. This study coincides with Bristol-based Suicide Prevention UK teaming up with bus company with First West of England in what is thought to be […]
Norwich’s first electric buses have hit the streets
Norwich’s first zero-emissions electric buses have hit the city’s streets today. Seven brand new electric double deckers, owned and operated by First Bus, are now serving passengers on the Pink, Red, Orange and Blue lines. These vehicles are the first of a fleet of seventy that are being rolled out over the coming months, to […]
Self-driving, full-size single-decker bus starts operation for the first time in Oxfordshire
A new electric, self-driving single-decker bus, operated by First Bus, is carrying passengers in Oxfordshire between Didcot Parkway train station and Milton Park. It follows trials of a self-driving mini-bus around Milton Park, which then expanded to a round trip between the station and the business park, reports the BBC. First Bus said the bus’ radar, LiDAR and […]
First Bus celebrates completion of UK’s largest rapid EV charging hub at flagship Glasgow depot
First Bus has announced the completion of a major transformation programme at its Caldedonia depot in Glasgow. The city is now home to the UK’s largest electric vehicle (EV) rapid-charging centre. Scottish Transport Minister, Jenny Gilruth, visited the site this week to mark the completion of works, which will allow 150 EVs to be charged […]
Bus depot in line to be Britain’s biggest EV charging hub
First Bus in Scotland is building the UK’s largest electric vehicle charging hub as it replaces half its fleet with electric buses in a depot in Scotland. The BBC reports that the programme to add 160 charging points at the Caledonia depot is expected to be completed in 2023 with the first 22 buses arriving […]
Arriva and First Bus to start of zero emission bus trials
Arrival has announced that it will begin trials of its zero emission Bus with First Bus, one of the UK’s largest transport operators. The trials, which will see Arrival buses navigating existing First Bus routes in the UK, will begin this Autumn, said the companies. The new partnership comes just seven months after First Bus […]
