First Bus leads the way with Net Zero emission bus depot in Leicester

Following the electrification of its commercial bus fleet in Leicester, First Bus has announced that the depot is now verified net zero-emission and amongst the first in the country to achieve this milestone.

The depot has built on the progress of its fully electric commercial bus fleet by investing in the necessary additional carbon reduction requirements to claim net zero status – among the first commercial bus depots in the UK to achieve this milestone.

Reaching this goal has meant going a step beyond eliminating fleet tailpipe emissions (First Bus’s Zero Emission Mission 2035) by accounting for other direct operational emissions associated with the site. This includes the energy used to power the depot and ancillary vehicles.

Net zero was achieved by reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by more than 90% compared to a baseline (FY20), and residual emissions (less than 10%) have been offset through supporting Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) carbon removals projects. Carbon Footprint Ltd, a leading environmental consultancy, has reviewed and verified these net-zero claims. *

Zoe Hands, Managing Director of First Bus Midlands, Manchester & South Yorkshire said:  

"We are proud to announce that Leicester has been verified as one of three Net Zero emission bus depots in the UK.

This achievement is testament to the success of the Leicester Buses Partnership, and I would like to thank all our employees and partners who have contributed their expertise and technology to transform the Leicester depot.

Since the sites electrification in 2023, we’ve been working towards milestone moments like this one and we remain committed to our mission of providing sustainable transportation and improving air quality in the region."

The electrification of the Leicester depot took place in March 2023 and the site was transformed with state-of-the-art technology, including 462 solar panels, 30 dual headed rapid 150kW chargers, 12 triple headed 180kW dynamic chargers and 2 mobile 40kW chargers to allow for the simultaneous charging of up to 86 electric vehicles. The First Bus Leicester fleet now consists of 68 single-deck Electroliner Kite Electric buses and 18 double deckers.