What Is First Bus Doing For Greener Travel And Climate Action In Yorkshire?

Ever worried about where to charge an electric car on a long trip? Or wondered how all those delivery vans, and even ambulances, are supposed to switch to electric when there aren't enough plugs to go around? It's a real head-scratcher.

But something pretty big is happening with electric vehicle charging, and a lot of the action is starting right here in Yorkshire. The bus company, First Bus, is making a move that could completely change the game for greener travel across the UK. They are opening up their private charging stations to help everyone from delivery drivers to the emergency services get powered up.

A big plan for electric charging

So, what's the plan? It's called First Charge, and it's a brilliantly simple idea. First Bus has been busy setting up some seriously powerful charging points at its depots to power its own fleet of electric buses. Now, they're opening up this private network to other people. Think of it like this: instead of every company having to build its own expensive charging station, they can just share the massive one at the local bus depot. It's a bit like sharing a giant power bank, but for electric vans, lorries, and cars.

This isn't just a small local trial, either. The First Charge programme is a nationwide initiative, rolling out across 15 different depots around the country. And for people in Yorkshire, there's good news. Key locations like the First Bus depot in Bramley and the one in York are part of the first wave. This new shared electric vehicle charging infrastructure is designed to fill a massive gap. Finding reliable, high-power charging spots can be a real pain, so building this network in important areas is a massive step forward for anyone wanting to make the switch to electric. This whole EV charging project is a huge part of the push for greener travel.

Why is this happening now?

It's all connected to the bigger picture of tackling the climate emergency. Everyone's talking about 'net zero' - that's the goal to stop adding new greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. A huge part of reaching net zero is changing how we travel. This whole initiative is getting a spotlight at a major event, The Yorkshire Post Climate Change Summit. This conference, which is happening for the fifth time, brings together the region's leaders and smartest thinkers to come up with solid plans for climate action.

The event is a big deal, and First Bus will be there to explain exactly how its First Charge network will work. The summit takes place at The Leeds Conservatoire on Thursday, October 16, 2025. It's a chance for experts to get together and really hash out the details of how Yorkshire can lead the way in protecting the planet. By sharing its powerful EV charging infrastructure, First Bus is showing it's serious about helping the UK hit its net zero targets.

So, who gets to use these chargers?

This is where it gets really interesting. The First Charge network isn't just for buses. First Bus is aiming to help businesses and fleet operators get access to the high-power charging they desperately need. They're already working with some big names like DPD, Centrica, and Openreach. So, the van that delivers your parcels or the engineer who comes to fix your internet could soon be plugging into the local bus depot to recharge overnight.

And it doesn't stop there. The plan is to help emergency services electrify their vehicles too. Imagine police cars, ambulances, and fire engines all running on clean electricity, able to get a quick power boost from the same depot. By opening up its network, First Bus is helping a whole range of essential services make the switch to greener travel. In some locations, the plan is to even open up the EV charging points to the wider public, making it easier for everyone to own an electric car. This shared approach makes the whole transition much faster and cheaper for everyone involved.

Hearing from the experts

One of the key speakers at The Yorkshire Post Climate Change Summit will be Andy Gwilliam, who is the Head of Product for EV Charging at First Bus. He'll be part of a panel of experts discussing how to speed up the change to electric journeys. He explained that having fast and easy-to-access charging is the key to getting more electric vehicles on the road.

Mr Gwilliam said: "Fast, accessible and high-volume charging is crucial for electrifying transport and our network is ready to be a leader in providing this critical infrastructure."

He also pointed out just how important this is for hitting those net zero goals.

"Tackling the emissions of road freight, last mile delivery and passenger transport are vital to the UK's net-zero ambitions. HGVs account for around 5% of vehicles but approximately 19% of domestic transport emissions; coaches and vans are also under increasing scrutiny, while emergency services are under pressure to decarbonise their fleets."

He acknowledged the problems, like the high cost of electric vehicles and worries about the electricity grid coping. But he had an answer for that too.

"High vehicle costs, grid constraints, lack of cost-effective high-powered charging, and uncertainty on technology choice remain barriers to adoption. First Bus designed depot electrification with third-party charging in mind from day one, which allows First Charge to offer ultra-rapid, scalable, secure charging using REGO-certified green energy, at low cost, and in strategically important UK locations." That green energy part means the electricity is certified to come from renewable sources, like wind farms, which is even better for the planet.

A summit packed with bright ideas

The conference on October 16, 2025, promises to be a full day of debate and inspiration. The whole point of the summit is to turn talk into real-world solutions for the climate emergency in Yorkshire. James Mitchinson, the Editor of The Yorkshire Post, will be there to kick things off, highlighting the paper's commitment to championing climate action.

The list of speakers and panellists is impressive, showing just how seriously the region is taking this. Attendees will hear from all sorts of experts:

• Lord Deben, former Chair of the UK Climate Change Committee
• Tom Riordan, Chief Executive of Leeds City Council
• Professor Simone Buitendijk, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leeds
• Victoria Murray, a project manager for a major flood resilience project
• Mark Henderson, the Flood Risk Manager for City of York Council

These experts, along with many other speakers, will be exploring practical solutions and helping to shape the region's climate action plan. It's a proper meeting of minds, all focused on a single goal: tackling climate change head-on.

What's the bottom line?

Basically, this is a clever way to solve a big problem. Instead of waiting for thousands of new public chargers to be built, First Bus is sharing what it already has. The First Charge programme will make a huge difference to companies and services that need reliable, electric vehicle charging to make the switch away from petrol and diesel. It's a nationwide plan, but it's fantastic to see Yorkshire playing such a central role, with its depots in Bramley and York leading the charge.

This initiative, combined with the important conversations happening at the Yorkshire Post Climate Change Summit, shows a real commitment to greener travel and finding practical ways to deal with the climate emergency. It's a big step in the right direction towards achieving net zero and cleaner air for everyone.