Work has begun to transform Xplore Dundee’s depot so that it’s ready to operate the city’s first fully electric buses.
New infrastructure is being installed by Zenobē to allow the bus company to operate twelve zero emission double deckers – Electric Emeralds - due to arrive at the garage before the end of the year.
Managing Director Christine McGlasson said: “This is a major step forward for us and for the city in terms of sustainable public transport. Our fully electric double deckers will be cleaner, quieter, and will mean a significant reduction in C02 emissions from our fleet, helping Dundee to achieve its net zero ambitions. What’s more, we’ll be deploying them on Service 28 which means we’re doing our bit to ease the pollution problems on Lochee Road, one of the city’s air quality hotspots.
“I hope our passengers will love the Electric Emeralds as much as we do and that they will encourage more people to leave their car keys at home and take the bus more often – it’s an important shift we must all consider to help reduce congestion and pollution on our city streets. The work being done means we will be able to charge up to 35 electric vehicles, so this is just the start of our zero emission journey. Transforming our depot to get ready for the first twelve buses is a major step towards welcoming them to the city and we’re delighted to start that process with Zenobē.”
Xplore Dundee is part of the McGill’s Group, the UK’s largest independent bus operator. McGill’s has ordered a total of 68 electric vehicles for three of its depots, including Xplore Dundee, following a £32.5million investment partly funded by the Scottish Government’s Scottish Ultra Low Emissions Bus Scheme (SULEB) set up to help drive forward sustainable transport in Scotland. The buses will be delivered later this year and will see the McGill’s Group operate the largest electric fleet in Scotland as COP26 gets underway in Glasgow in the next few days.
Zenobē is an EV fleet and battery storage specialist, which powers around 25% of the EV bus market in the UK. Zenobē is project managing the electric charging infrastructure implementation for Xplore Dundee and implementing an end-to-end software solution to manage both the vehicles and fleet charging, as well as the resulting power requirements.
Steven Meersman, co-founder and director of Zenobē, said: “We’re delighted to be taking forward this important project for Xplore Dundee and the wider community. The new fleet of electric buses will help to boost access to sustainable travel in Dundee and support Scotland’s drive towards net zero.
“This is a shining example of what’s possible when private organisations and government work together towards a common goal and this will lead to tangible benefits for both passengers and the environment.”
Xplore Dundee
As Dundee's principal public transport provider, we fulfill around 35,000 passenger journeys every day. Our service is part of the fabric of the city - carrying people where they need to be, and employing more than 300 people.
