On-site battery storage will cut energy costs, stabilise supply for bus charging, and improve the use of renewable power. This investment forms part of First Bus’s strategy to create resilient, cost-efficient infrastructure as it transitions to a fully zero-emission fleet by 2035.

Under the agreement, more than 8,000 EV charging points nationwide from Statiq’s network will be integrated into VECV’s “My Eicher” fleet management app.

The project, developed with Emergency One, Cenex and the London Fire Brigade, is already being integrated into Emergency One’s EV0 electric fire appliance range, with Equipmake providing the energy management system. Still at the demonstrator stage, ZEPA V2V shows clear commercial potential to increase duty cycles of electric emergency vehicles.

Industry analysts suggest the acquisition could accelerate the deployment of integrated AC/DC solutions that support the rollout of electric Commercial Vehicles at scale.

The new brand opens depot-based ultra-rapid chargers to fleets and the public, expanding electric charging access across the UK.

This investment forms part of First Bus’s strategy to achieve a zero-emission fleet by 2035 and supports Bristol’s wider clean air goals.

When it opens, it will be capable of charging twenty-five medium- and heavy-duty trucks simultaneously at up to 240 kilowatts each, or six trucks at 1.2 megawatts.

Located at one of the UK’s busiest multi-modal logistics hubs, the facility will serve more than 60 commercial fleet operators based at the port, as well as numerous HGVs passing through, with daily traffic estimated between 3,000 and 6,000 vehicles!

The ‘Smart Charging Cube’, manufactured by German company AW Automotive, is a battery storage unit which can be used to power between one and four charging points, providing a maximum charging capacity of 400 kilowatts.

The company is looking to capitalise on the demand for clean energy in the transportation sector by preparing to roll out a nationwide network of energy hubs across the UK that will cater specifically to the needs of van and truck operators navigating the shift away from diesel.

This initial charging stop is expected to serve regional logistics companies, fleet operators, and international hauliers, and is seen as a model for broader megawatt infrastructure rollouts across Italy and Southern Europe in the coming years.

Located in Bayswater, Perth, the depot will support 132 zero-emission buses when it begins operations in mid-2026.