- Falcon Coaches is electrifying its fleet with 13 new electric buses, set for delivery in 2026, with VEV.
- VEV is upgrading the West Byfleet depot, adding a 1.5 MVA grid to support 35 electric buses.
- Surrey County Council is investing £32 million to accelerate zero-emission buses, fostering public-private collaboration for cleaner transport.
Falcon Coaches deploys key partnerships to take key step in the UK’s electric bus transition
The UK’s EV transition is progressing at pace. However, public transport still has a key role to play in achieving net-zero emissions. Falcon Coaches, a leading bus operator in Surrey, is taking a significant step forward by electrifying its fleet with 13 new electric buses.
Falcon’s new electric buses, due for delivery in 2026, will operate from its West Byfleet depot. VEV is designing and building the charging infrastructure needed to support the electric fleet. This includes a 1.5 MVA grid upgrade to ensure the depot can accommodate up to 35 electric buses in the future.
Mike Nakrani, CEO of VEV, commented:
“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.”
The project is expected to save 10,454 tonnes of carbon emissions over the lifetime of the fleet. Fleet upgrades have become a common practice, with an increasing level of support available to fleet managers to ease the transition. Electric fleets repeatedly prove themselves to save operators time and money, while dropping emissions and enhancing safety.
Surrey County Council also supports the initiative.
It’s committing £32 million to accelerate the introduction of zero-emission buses in the region. This project is a prime example of the public and private sectors working together to decarbonise public transport. Partnerships like this are key to the transition, with encroaching deadlines, unity is the strongest path forward.
As the UK moves toward net-zero, decarbonising public transport is essential. Initiatives like Falcon’s electrification project are vital to achieving this goal.
