First Bus launches shared-charging initiative 'First Charge'

Bus operator First Bus has officially launched ‘First Charge’, the new identity for its growing, shared-charging initiative.

First Bus Caledonia depot in Glasgow now doubles 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.

First Bus is already sharing its depot-based charging facilities with leading businesses across the UK – including DPD, Centrica, Openreach, and Police Scotland. 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.”

The programme will include 15 First Bus depots in Scotland and England, 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.