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Stagecoach South West recently announced a major partnership with e-fleet solutions provider VEV to accelerate bus electrification across Devon, UK. Forty-eight new EV chargers will be installed in Devon; 27 are 150 kW and there will be an additional 21 chargers.
Devon is in southwest England and is known for its pastoral beauty with moors, heaths, hills, fossil cliffs, and coastline. About 1.1 million people live there as do many wild species, including quite a number of birds.
Simon Cubitt from VEV answered some questions about the new EV chargers.
Why are new chargers being installed in Torquay, Exeter, and Barnstaple?
The chargers are being installed to support Stagecoach South West’s transition to an electric bus fleet across North Devon and Torbay. These three strategic depot locations will form the backbone of their electric bus operations, replacing diesel buses with cleaner, electric alternatives. The infrastructure is essential for charging the 110 electric buses that are set to enter operation in 2026.
Which vehicles will use the new chargers?
Stagecoach have orders placed with Alexander Dennis, Volvo and Yutong to create a total fleet of 110 electric buses across the three depot locations. Further down the line, the charging facilities will also be made available as Community Charging Hubs delivered through Stagecoach’s new B2B proposition — Stagecoach Chargd.
Who will use this transportation, and what for?
The buses will serve passengers across North Devon and Torbay, connecting over 100 major towns and cities in the region. Local communities, commuters, and visitors will use these services for daily transportation needs, work commutes, and accessing essential services. The buses provide vital public transport links that support local economies and community connectivity.
What is VEV-IQ?
VEV-IQ is our award-winning smart charging and digital energy management platform. The system monitors and optimizes power usage, charging scheduling, and charger status across all depot sites in real-time. It provides operational insights, supports charger uptime, enables energy cost optimization, and maximizes asset utilization for efficient fleet operations.
What is Stagecoach, and what does it do?
Stagecoach is the UK’s largest transport operator, founded in 1980, serving more than 100 major towns and cities across England, Scotland, and Wales. The company employs 23,000 people and provides extensive bus and coach services to local communities. Stagecoach works with partners such as VEV to deliver greener, smarter, safer public transport solutions while supporting government ambitions for sustainable transportation.
When will the new chargers be operational?
Construction has already started at the Torquay depot, with the charging infrastructure being installed across all three sites. The charging infrastructure will be completed in phases to support the gradual rollout of electric buses across the region with a view to having the full fleet of buses online in 2026.
How many electric buses will use them?
110 electric buses will use the new charging infrastructure across the three depot locations. The Torquay depot will be 100% electric, marking an exciting milestone for Stagecoach South-West and the wider Stagecoach Group. These buses will completely replace the existing diesel fleet in the region.
Will there be any savings by using electricity to fuel the vehicles instead of petrol or diesel?
Our VEV-IQ platform will optimize energy usage and costs, ensuring maximum efficiency and cost-effectiveness throughout the fleet’s operation.
We expect to achieve significant operational cost savings compared to diesel vehicles due to lower fuel costs and reduced maintenance requirements. Electric buses also eliminate local air pollution and reduce carbon emissions, contributing to environmental goals and potentially avoiding future carbon taxation costs.
Stagecoach has calculated that by switching from diesel to electric, they will achieve a reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide equal to taking an estimated 2,000 diesel cars off the road over the lifetime of the buses.
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