Hitachi and First build on electrification partnership
Building on the partnership formed last year between Hitachi and First Bus, seven of First Bus’ depots now use Hitachi’s ZeroCarbon battery and charging management software and managed services.
Hitachi ZeroCarbon has onboarded over 400 buses across seven First Bus depots, including Leicester, Aberdeen, Bramley, Scotstoun, Norwich, Hoeford and York. This is currently in addition to the 148 buses already under management at the Caledonia depot.
Through tariff optimisation, First Bus’ energy consumption is being reduced during peak demand periods, making significant savings on energy costs. Plus, data reports, insights and recommendations from telematics are helping First Bus monitor and extend the battery health of its fleet.
A centralised view of real-time information for all depot operations has also been implemented and the operational support, provided by Hitachi ZeroCarbon’s managed service team, for the charging ecosystem combined should ensure smoother operations.
“Our continued partnership with Hitachi ZeroCarbon helps us maximise the potential from our investment in technology” – Andrew Gwilliam, Product and Propositions Manager, Decarbonisation at First Bus
Andrew Gwilliam, Product and Propositions Manager, Decarbonisation at First Bus, said: “We’re committed to reducing our impact on the communities we serve, and creating cleaner air for future generations. Our continued partnership with Hitachi ZeroCarbon helps us maximise the potential from our investment in technology, and we’re pleased that Hitachi’s goals mirror our own when it comes to being a fully net zero business.
“Our goal is to put the bus at the heart of an integrated, sustainable and reliable transport network, allowing us to more effectively tackle congestion, liberate roads and public spaces, and deal with the climate emergency by ending dependency on fossil fuels. We’re thrilled that Hitachi is on the journey with us.”
“We are particularly proud of the positive impact our partnership with First Bus will have on air quality in local communities” – Dan Pollard, Programme Manager at Hitachi ZeroCarbon
Dan Pollard, Programme Manager at Hitachi ZeroCarbon, said: “As a climate change innovator, we strive to deploy our technologies through collaboration and co-creation with our partners, enabling the decarbonisation of fleets while providing new revenue streams. We are particularly proud of the positive impact our partnership with First Bus will have on air quality in local communities.
“By partnering with such a sustainably ambitious business and leveraging data, technology, our managed services and a shared-ownership model with First Bus, we are able to decarbonise bus fleets faster and accelerate towards global net zero commitments.”