The Buses of Somerset, operated by First Bus South, has initiated the electrification of its depots in Taunton and Minehead in preparation for the arrival of 26 electric buses scheduled for deployment in spring 2025. The upgrade, which includes charging infrastructure installation, is part of Somerset’s £14.7 million investment in sustainable public transportation, with £2.2 million funded through the UK Department for Transport’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) programme and the remaining costs covered by First Bus.
“Today is an important milestone as work starts to transform Taunton and Minehead depots into electric-ready bases for our new EVs,” said Simon Goff, Managing Director of First Bus South. “The 26 zero-emissions buses are fantastic news for passengers, bringing cleaner, greener vehicles to our routes, improving air quality, and making bus travel even more sustainable.” Additionally, the upgrades are set to enhance staff facilities at the two depots.
While specific details of the charging infrastructure have not been disclosed, First Bus is collaborating with Dutch charging specialist Heliox, recently acquired by Siemens, to equip the depots with the necessary electric vehicle (EV) charging systems. Heliox has previously been engaged to support First Bus depots in Bristol, Weston-super-Mare, and Basildon.
In line with its commitment to fully transition to a zero-emission fleet by 2030, First Bus has recently ordered 36 electric buses from Wrightbus for Aberdeen and is also working with the manufacturer to retrofit existing diesel buses to meet future standards.