First Bus powers up with launch of ‘First Charge’
- First Bus launches ‘First Charge’ – a new identity for its nationwide programme that opens up First Bus’s EV infrastructure, helping accelerate the UK’s transition to cleaner, greener travel.
- Its Glasgow Caledonia depot is leading the launch with an expansion of its established shared infrastructure model to include public access for the first time.
First Bus, one of the UK’s largest bus operators, has officially launched ‘First Charge’, the new identity for its growing, shared-charging initiative.
The programme, which will include 15 First Bus depots in Scotland and England, is designed to open up First Bus’s electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure to support the transition to net zero — for businesses, fleet operators, and now, in Glasgow, for the wider public.
The First Bus Caledonia depot in Glasgow is leading the launch with the site now doubling as a public-facing, ultra-rapid charging hub, with charge points available for up to 34 fleet and consumer vehicles at any one time. Vehicles can be charged at the depot between 9:00 AM and 4:30 PM, at an introductory rate of just £0.39/kWh. This marks the first time First Bus has opened in-depot charging to the general public.
Located minutes from Glasgow city centre and supported by on-site staff, the new Caledonia Superhub offers fast, affordable charging for consumers as well as business fleets with a wide range of payment options, including contactless and roaming cards and apps such as Fuuse, Paua, Electroverse, and Allstar.
First Bus is already sharing its depot-based charging facilities with leading businesses across the UK —including DPD, Centrica, Openreach, and Police Scotland. By opening its depots to third-party EV users through First Charge, First Bus is helping to address a critical gap in charging infrastructure — particularly for commercial operators who need reliable, high-power charging in urban areas. Demand continues to grow for private and pre-arranged access at First Charge locations, particularly among operators in the rapidly expanding eHGV sector and other passenger transport services.
Isabel McAllister, First Bus UK Chief Sustainability and Compliance Officer, said: “At First Bus, we’re progressing rapidly towards our goal of a zero-emission fleet by 2035, with an investment of over £320m to date.
“With First Charge, we’re building on our position as an industry leader, sharing our infrastructure to accelerate decarbonisation to help other users move faster too.”
Supporting the investment and sharing of electric charging infrastructure to accelerate the transition to cleaner, greener travel, Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, said: “I’m pleased that the First Bus Caledonia Depot is opening its doors to people and communities by providing ultra-rapid electric vehicle charging at affordable pricing.
“When the Scottish Government invested over £6.4 million to fund the charging infrastructure at the Caledonia Depot, it was always the intention that First Bus thought innovatively and collaboratively about how it might be used. By providing more public EV charging, we’re now seeing that ambition realised, improving charging opportunities and promoting range confidence for EV drivers.
“Through the new First Charge brand, First Bus is now leading the way by sharing their charging infrastructure, adding to Scotland’s comprehensive public EV charging network and continuing to support the transition to a net zero transport system.”
To find out more about all that First Charge can offer to the fleets, organisations and the public, please visit our website: firstcharge.co.uk
Notes to editors
About First Bus
At First Bus, we’re on a mission to grow bus usage – so we’ll get behind initiatives that move people out of cars and onto the bus.
We’re one of the UK’s largest bus operators, transporting more than 1.5 million passengers a day. Our local bus services serve more than 25% of the population of Great Britain and over half of the UK’s top 15 most populated urban areas.
We are a leading operator in the majority of our local areas, including major urban centres such as Glasgow, Leeds and Leeds.
We have proudly launched our First Bus London operation and now operate 83 routes in west and central London from 10 garages serving 180 million passengers annually.
The combined operation now manages a fleet of over 5,750 buses across the UK.
Transforming our business for the better, we’re putting our people and customers at the heart of everything we do. That’s why we’re the UK’s largest national bus operator to achieve real Living Wage employer status, cementing our position as an employer of choice in the sector.
First Bus is committed to operating a zero-emission bus fleet by 2035. We will have over 1000 zero-emission buses in operation across our UK fleet by the end of 2025.
We’re passionate about giving back to the communities we serve, which is why we’re helping local businesses to progress their decarbonisation journeys – giving them access to our charging hubs while our buses are on the road.
We also operate, Specialist Passenger Solutions, First Travel Solutions, York Pullman Bus Company, Lakeside, Ensignbus, Anderson Travel - and the Aircoach network and Matthews in Ireland.
First Bus is a division of FirstGroup.
For more information on First Bus: news.firstbus.co.uk