FirstBus has opened its first fully electrified bus depot in Bristol, southwest England, to support the rollout of 74 new electric buses across the city and surrounding areas. The Hengrove depot, refurbished at a cost of £44 million, marks a key milestone in the company’s wider transition to a zero-emission fleet by 2035.
The site, though not newly built, has undergone a significant overhaul to enable electric operations. Five gantries fitted with charging infrastructure have been installed to service the new fleet. While FirstBus has not confirmed the specific charging method, photos suggest the use of overhead pantograph-style systems, similar to those employed in London.
Funding for the project included a £6.6 million contribution from the UK government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) programme, with the remainder covered by a £37.4 million investment from FirstBus. According to the company, the 74 electric buses are expected to carry up to 230,000 passengers weekly across seven major routes in the region.
“The opening of our first electrified depot in Bristol is not only a key moment on our journey to a fully electric fleet by 2035, but also demonstrates our commitment to providing customers with a smoother, quieter and cleaner bus network in the West of England,” said Rob Pymm, acting Managing Director for FirstBus in the West of England. He added, “The additional buses mean the Hengrove depot will be operating a fully electric fleet by next summer.”
While billed as a first for the city, the Hengrove facility joins a growing network of electrified infrastructure in southwest England. In March, FirstBus opened an electric depot in Weston-Super-Mare to serve North Somerset routes. Plans are also underway to electrify additional depots in Taunton and Minehead as the company expands its zero-emission operations.