First Bus is helping DPD to carry out more green journeys in Glasgow in a milestone move which sees the transport operator’s ambitions from COP26 come to life.
At the global climate change conference last year, First Bus set out its aim offer local businesses use of the electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure at its Caledonia Depot.
One year on, DPD UK has become the first company to officially sign up to the scheme. The agreement means that DPD drivers will now have access to the site to charge their electric vehicles whilst in Glasgow, enabling them to travel a greater distance while making deliveries.
Located on Glasgow’s southside, First Bus’s Caledonia Depot has 160 state-of-the art, rapid-charging points. Through this arrangement, the green potential of First Bus’s charging hub will be maximised while its own electric fleet is out in service.
First Bus has worked closely with Hitachi ZeroCarbon to provide the systems that will enable charging commercial vehicles at the site. Originally designed for the buses operating out of the Caledonia depot, it is hoped the Plug and Charge solution will benefit businesses in Glasgow by providing the availability of DC ultra-rapid charging for commercial electric vehicles.
DPD’s aim is to be the most sustainable parcel delivery company in the UK and the company is on track to have over 3,000 EVs on the road this year and 4,000 by 2023, when it will be delivering to 30 towns and cities, including Glasgow, using EVs only.
Initially, eight DPD EVs from the firm’s Cambuslang depot will access the Caledonia site, as part of the trial period. The expectation is that this number will increase to help support DPD’s growing EV fleet in the city, which is planned to total close to 200 electric vans by the end of next year.
Source: DPD
