EO Charging, a specialist in electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions for depot-based fleets, has forged a multi-million-pound partnership with Horizon Energy Ventures (HEV) to accelerate the expansion of sustainable energy infrastructure projects across the UK’s public transport networks. This collaboration aims to support the rapid electrification of UK bus fleets, particularly by advancing EO’s innovative Charging-as-a-Service (CaaS) model, which provides fully funded, scalable infrastructure solutions to fleet operators under flexible monthly payment plans.

The partnership will focus initially on London, which leads the UK in EV adoption with one of Europe’s largest electric bus fleets comprising over 1,400 battery electric vehicles and a planned full transition to electric buses by 2034. London’s rapid electrification demands sophisticated, high-performance charging solutions and substantial investment to maintain operational reliability. EO has previously contributed to this effort through projects with Transport for London and operators such as Go-Ahead, deploying tailored infrastructure that meets the specific needs of busy urban transport hubs.

The new joint investment with HEV will enhance EO’s Charge Assurance platform, a technology suite that actively manages energy use and flexibility to optimise fleet operations and reliability. By integrating multiple new transport depots onto this platform, EO and HEV intend to improve visibility and operational efficiency across London’s public transport network, helping to ease the challenges of large-scale electrification.

David Freeder, Head of Investment at HEV, expressed enthusiasm about initiating their first UK eBus infrastructure investment in London, highlighting the shared ambition to support the transition towards fully decarbonised fleets and extend low-carbon infrastructure funding to other operators across the country. EO’s CEO, Richard Staveley, remarked that the collaboration would accelerate their CaaS offering, making fleet electrification more accessible by bundling hardware, software, and maintenance into one fully funded package that removes the burden of upfront capital expenditure.

EO Charging’s expertise is well established in the sector, evidenced by recent recognition at the 2024 EVIE Awards, where they and Go-Ahead London won the Fleet Electrification Strategy of the Year for projects managing power constraints at the Croydon Bus Depot. Here, EO’s intelligent load management system effectively doubled charging capacity without expensive upgrades, allowing support for 42 electric buses in line with London’s 2030 all-electric bus fleet target.

Beyond London, EO’s impact extends across the UK, including a major contract to install charging infrastructure at a new Warrington depot for 105 electric buses, part of the borough’s ambitious plan to replace diesel vehicles and cover 85% of local mileage with zero-emission transport by 2024. EO’s experience also spans large-scale commercial fleets, having installed over 800 chargers supporting Amazon’s growing zero-emission delivery fleet in the UK, and advanced charging solutions for logistics operators like Gnewt Cargo in London.

Additionally, EO’s collaboration with Transport for London on high-speed pantograph charging technology supports zero-emission buses on key routes, signalling the city’s commitment to comprehensive electrification efforts. These initiatives showcase EO’s broad capabilities, from delivering scalable infrastructure to implementing smart energy management technologies that enable urban fleets to meet strict environmental targets.

Through the partnership with HEV, EO Charging is positioned to accelerate the rollout of fully funded, innovative charging solutions that cater to the complex needs of public transport fleets during this critical transition to zero-emission mobility, providing the infrastructure backbone essential for the UK’s green transport ambitions.

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Source: Noah Wire Services