Stagecoach ditches diesel with new electric bus depot
Bus and coach operator Stagecoach has completed work on the first of four EV-first bus depots as it works to electrify its fleet.
The new depot in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, will see 57 electric buses rolled out in spring 2025 to replace more than two-thirds of Stagecoach’s diesel fleet serving Chesterfield and the wider northeastern Derbyshire area.
The electric bus depot’s infrastructure features 27 dual DC 120kW chargers providing 54 charging sockets, and a 2.5MVA power upgrade. A solar installation is currently under construction at the site, featuring rooftop solar panels generating approximately 200MWh of power annually at roughly half the cost of grid electricity. This is expected to save 48 tonnes of carbon annually while reducing demand on the grid and associated energy costs.
The Chesterfield electric bus depot is one of four electrified sites announced between fleet electrification specialists, VEV, and Stagecoach. When completed, the facilities will support a total of 150 electric buses in Chesterfield, Leamington, Nuneaton, and Rugby.
VEV will also introduce its VEV-IQ smart charging and energy management platform at the site, which enables Stagecoach to monitor their vehicles’ states of charge, location, and range. The VEV-IQ system also provides Stagecoach with fleet performance reports.
Tony Cockcroft, Stagecoach asset management director said: “Our Chesterfield EV depot marks a significant step forward in our electrification journey. The sophisticated VEV-IQ platform provides us with the insights and control we need to optimise our fleet operations, make informed decisions about our business & enable additional revenue generation. We look forward to replicating this success with VEV at our other Leamington, Nuneaton, and Rugby sites.”
Mike Nakrani, VEV CEO added: “The completion of the Chesterfield depot is the first deliverable in our relationship with Stagecoach to support both their strategic and operational goals on fleet electrification. This isn’t just about installing chargers – it’s about providing a complete solution that encompasses fleet analysis, infrastructure, power optimisation, staff training, and ongoing operational support to ensure a successful transition of the bus network to electric vehicles.”
Stagecoach partially funded the new depot alongside Derbyshire County Council and the UK government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) 2 scheme. ZEBRA 2 will provide funding of up to £142.8m to promote the adoption of Zero Emission Buses (ZEBs) in areas outside of London.
