First Bus shared-charging initiative opens to public for first time

First Bus is opening up its electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to the public for the first time and has officially launched ‘First Charge’, the 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’ infrastructure to support the transition to net zero for businesses, fleet operators, and now, in Glasgow, for the wider public.  

The First Bus Caledonia depot in Glasgow will be the first to offer in-depot charging to the general public.  

Located minutes from Glasgow city centre and supported by on-site staff, the new Caledonia ‘superhub’ now offers charging for consumers as well as business fleets.  

First Bus already shares its depot-based charging facilities with fleets across the UK, including DPD, Centrica, Openreach, and Police Scotland.

By opening its depots to third-party EV users through First Charge, First Bus says it is helping to address a critical gap in charging infrastructure, particularly for commercial operators who need reliable, high-power charging in urban areas.  

Demand continues to grow for private and pre-arranged access at First Charge locations, particularly among operators in the rapidly expanding eHGV sector and other passenger transport services. 

Isabel McAllister, First Bus UK chief sustainability and compliance officer, said: “At First Bus, we’re progressing rapidly towards our goal of a zero-emission fleet by 2035, with an investment of over £320 million 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.” 

The bus operator announced a partnership with Paua in May, for the launch of Paua Share – a shared depot charging service developed off the back of an Innovate UK project, which was funded by the Department for Transport (DfT). 

The First Bus depots are equipped with high-powered EV chargers ranging from 150kW to 350kW, which is generated by renewable power, with sites strategically located across the UK to support operational flexibility and maximise vehicle uptime.