Falcon Coaches heads on electrification journey with VEV
Surrey-based Falcon Coaches is electrifying its new bus fleet with the help of e-fleet solutions provider VEV.
The end-to-end electrification project at Falcon’s West Byfleet depot enables the cost-effective adoption and operation of the new electric bus fleet. The first stage of the transition involves 13 new Alexander Dennis Enviro200EV electric buses being delivered in 2026.
Following the initial electrification consultancy and power assessment, VEV facilitated an extensive grid upgrade, and will design, procure and build the charging infrastructure. The electric fleet will be connected to VEV-IQ, the proprietary fleet data management platform, to optimise the charging infrastructure and energy usage.
Falcon’s electrification scheme further reinforces its drive to decarbonisation, forecast to help reduce carbon-emissions output by 10,454 tonnes across the lifetime of the 13 fully electric, zero emission buses.
Surrey County Council is supporting the project as part of its Surrey Climate Change Strategy, a joint framework for collaborative action on climate change across Surrey’s local authorities and partners, targeting net zero by 2050. The council declared a Climate Emergency in 2019 and committed £32 million to accelerate the introduction of zero-emission buses in Surrey.
The Falcon West Byfleet depot is situated in a space- and energy-constrained industrial estate bordering a railway line, and this presented a challenge for the electrification ambitions. VEV conducted the initial electrification assessment using Falcon’s telematics and route patterns and determining the power requirements.
The priority was to secure the additional power capacity, and VEV facilitated a grid upgrade of 1.5 MVA to futureproof the depot’s capacity for up to 35 electric buses. The build will involve a precisely mapped half-mile excavation to deliver the power to the depot as well as installing the charging infrastructure.
The new electric bus fleet connect to the VEV-IQ control platform, which is designed to optimise efficiency and minimise costs during operation. Once on VEV-IQ, all buses will be charged dynamically respecting any site grid limits or constraints, whilst ensuring the buses are fully charged for the next day’s duty cycle.
“We’re hugely excited to see the project unfold ahead of the service commencing in 2026” – Richard Telling, Managing Director of Falcon Coaches
Richard Telling, Managing Director of Falcon Coaches, said: “As a leading independent bus operator, we have a duty to provide our customers and local residents with an efficient, environmentally friendly service that’s fit for purpose today and in the future. We’re delighted to have the expertise of VEV to help us meet the challenges of switching our fleet to electric, and together we’re working to ensure our West Byfleet depot is futureproofed for up to 35 electric buses – both in terms of power-capacity and space on-site. We’re hugely excited to see the project unfold ahead of the service commencing in 2026.”
“Bus electrification represents a huge opportunity in the race to achieve net zero for the UK, local authorities, and our local communities” – Mike Nakrani, CEO of VEV
Mike Nakrani, CEO of VEV, said: “We’re looking forward to enabling Falcon’s vision for a clean, electric bus fleet to become a reality. Bus electrification represents a huge opportunity in the race to achieve net zero for the UK, local authorities, and our local communities. Bus operators therefore have a significant role to play in switching to electric fleets, and we help them navigate the challenges they can face in making that happen.”