EO to install chargepoints for Warrington e-buses

EO Charging has been chosen by Warrington Borough Council to provide the infrastructure that will power its new eBus fleet.

EO will install the chargers at Warrington’s new bus depot being constructed to host 105 Volvo BZL Electric vehicles scheduled for delivery in 2024. This is one of the biggest electric bus orders by any town or city in the UK to date.

The electric buses will replace the current Warrington’s Own Buses diesel fleet, which covers 85 per cent of the mileage served in the borough. The investment, being made with support from the ZEBRA scheme, is part of wider work to transform Warrington services under the borough’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).

Keith Watson, Head of eBus at EO Charging, said: “EO Charging is delighted to be working with Warrington Borough Council and Warrington’s Own Buses to install electric bus charging technology for their new fleet. This is one of the most ambitious eBus projects in the UK public sector, so it will be a great case study for how electrification can help councils and bus operators deliver on their plans to build sustainable transport into everyday life.”

EO Charging will be starting works on-site later this year, with the project fully delivered in Q2 2024. The charging solutions provider is working in collaboration with ABB E-mobility. They have provided 53 of their Terra 124 dual outlet units, which are high capacity 120kW chargers. Each unit supports overnight charging of two vehicles.

Navin Smart, Sales Manager UK at ABB E-mobility, commented: “This has been an exciting project that we have worked on together with EO Charging for a long period of time, and I hope for further similar projects in the future to promote EV and E-mobility in local transportation. This collaboration is a beautiful example of how a turnkey solution company like EO and a hardware solution like ABB E-mobility can contribute to building an emission-free future of transportation.”

The new connection of 6MVA will be managed through an EO Hub load management device, and the chargers will be connected to the EO Cloud software platform to ensure the limits of the new timed connection are not exceeded. EO Charging has previously collaborated with ABB E-mobility, but never on such a large-scale project.

Councillor Hans Mundry, Warrington Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for transport, said: “It’s fantastic news that our ZEBRA project is moving forward and we’re working with best-in-class partners like EO Charging on the implementation. The introduction of our all-electric fleet will bring massive benefits, helping to decarbonise our transport system as we work towards a net-zero future.

“We will be delivering a fleet of buses fit for the future with zero tailpipe emissions which will improve air quality across Warrington, supporting our work to tackle the climate emergency. It will also support a key aim of our Local Transport Plan, to reduce emissions and congestion and build sustainable transport into everyday life in Warrington.”