First Bus launches innovative EV charging hub in Cornwall, UK

Credit: First Bus

First Bus has announced its investment in a state-of-the-art consumer electric vehicle (EV) charging hub at its Summercourt depot in Cornwall. This move by the bus industry will provide direct access to rapid electric charging infrastructure for electric cars and vans, making it the first of its kind in the sector.

The new Summercourt hub, known as a ‘turn up and charge’ facility, will feature eight rapid charging points that will be available to the public on a pay-as-you-go basis. By establishing this hub, First Bus aims to contribute to the local community by creating a long-term charging site while encouraging more individuals to transition to electric vehicles, thereby improving local air quality.

Situated in a convenient location on the main A30 tourist route into Cornwall, the hub will also help alleviate EV range anxiety for holidaymakers as they travel through the county. In addition, local businesses will have access to the charging infrastructure, following the success of a pilot programme in Glasgow and Leicester, where companies such as DPD and Police Scotland benefited from First Bus’s charging provision for their EV fleets.

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The Summercourt charging hub represents a significant step in First Bus’s decarbonisation strategy and supports its commitment to operate a fully zero-emission fleet by 2035. This initiative marks an important milestone for customers, employees and the local environment. Construction work is already underway, and it is expected that the hub will be fully operational and open to the public later in Summer 2023, boasting eight rapid chargers capable of fully charging an average-sized family car in under 30 minutes.

Isabel McAllister, First Bus UK’s Chief Sustainability Officer, said: “We’re proud to be leading the way with this industry first for consumer electric charging. We want to help the communities we serve with their own transition to zero emissions transport solutions. We believe this is the right thing to do. By future-proofing sites like Summercourt, we are proud to be progressing our net zero journey and investing in a greener future for our local communities.”