New EV charging hub to open in Cornwall
First Bus hope the new purpose-built site will be ready later this summer
A new EV charging hub is set to open in Cornwall.
First Bus South has announced investment in a new purpose-build consumer site at its Summercourt depot.
It'll see one of the UK's largest bus operators provide the local community with direct access to rapid electric charging infrastructure for electric cars and vans.
The new 'turn up and charge' hub will offer eight rapid charging facilities available on a pay-as-you-go basis.
First Bus South say the site is easily accessible near the main A30 tourist route into Cornwall, which they hope will ease holiday makers' EV range anxiety as they travel through the county.
The chargers will also be available for local businesses to use following the successful pilot of B2B charging provision by First Bus in Glasgow and Leicester, where companies such as DPD and Police Scotland benefit from the use of the operator’s infrastructure for their EV fleets.
The Summercourt charging hub is the next step in the company’s decarbonisation strategy and aligns with its mission to operate a fully zero emission fleet by 2035.
First Bus South Managing Director Simon Goff said: "We’re proud to be leading the way with this first of its kind offering for consumer electric charging at our depot. We want to help the communities we serve with their own transition to green transport solutions.
"We’re not doing this because of rules, or regulations, but because we believe it’s the right thing to do. This represents a significant investment, and futureproofing our business at sites like Summercourt, is another step in our journey as we look to transition to zero emission buses over the coming years.2
Preparations and works are underway on site and it is anticipated that the hub will be fully operational and open to the public later this summer.