First Bus, one of the UK’s largest bus operators, said on Thursday that its new battery storage facility in Hampshire will begin operations next month, storing surplus energy for grid export and supporting power supply for more than 1,200 electric buses.
The site, located at the company’s Hoeford depot, will initially hold up to three bus batteries capable of storing as much as 1 megawatt of power. The company said it will recycle batteries from its electric fleet to expand capacity over time.
First Bus added that it also aims to begin work later this year on an “even larger” storage facility at its Aberdeen depot, part of a broader plan to achieve a net zero commercial bus fleet by 2035. “With buses at the forefront of the transition to electric vehicles and net-zero transportation, I’m delighted to welcome investment … to advance development of next generation control systems,” said Palmer Energy founder Andy Palmer.
Faizan Muhammad, investment director at FirstGroup, said: “This investment continues our strategy of backing new and innovative companies aimed at supporting our long-term public commitment of achieving a zero-emission commercial bus fleet by 2035.”
