Stagecoach steps up depot electrification as new sites are energised

Stagecoach has energised a new group of depots across the UK as it pushes ahead with the infrastructure needed to support its growing electric bus fleet.

The latest sites to go live include Aldershot, Arbroath, Ardrossan, Ash Grove, Barking, Barnstaple, Bow, Bromley, Cheltenham, Dover, Dundee, Exeter, Gloucester, Kilmarnock, Leyton, St Andrews and Torquay, with the upgraded connections expected to provide capacity for around 1,330 electric buses.

That figure amounts to more than 16% of Stagecoach’s total UK fleet, marking a significant step in the operator’s wider electrification programme.

While much of the attention around transport decarbonisation tends to focus on the vehicles themselves, getting depots energised is a critical part of making large-scale fleet electrification possible. For operators such as Stagecoach, that means securing the grid capacity needed to support high-powered charging infrastructure across a growing number of sites.

Aurora Utilities, which is delivering the new connections as the independent distribution network operator (IDNO), said the programme is helping Stagecoach move more quickly in bringing new electric buses into service.

The London depots included in the latest phase of the rollout – Ash Grove, Barking, Bow, Bromley and Leyton – are also aligned with Transport for London’s ambition for all London facilities and public transport to run on renewable energy by 2030.

Simon Reilly, CEO of Aurora, commented, “Stagecoach is moving at pace to decarbonise its fleet, and we’re proud to be energising the infrastructure that makes that possible. Each new connection brings hundreds of zero-emission buses closer to reality on UK roads. Our team’s experience and strong relationships with network operators mean we can deliver faster, smarter grid solutions that turn net zero ambitions into operational progress.”

Tony Cockcroft, Asset Management and Infrastructure Director at Stagecoach, added,  “Electrifying our nationwide depots is critical to delivering a modern, sustainable public transport network. Aurora’s expertise as an IDNO has allowed us to accelerate new connections, and get more electric buses on the road sooner, lowering our emissions and benefiting the communities we serve through more reliable services.”

Alongside depot electrification, Stagecoach is also investing in battery storage and on-site solar, which should help reduce both the company’s environmental impact and its operating expenses when it comes to charging its electric bus fleet.