Stagecoach launches Stratford EV bus fleet

Stagecoach has worked with UK Power Networks Services to put the charging infrastructure in place to launch five electric buses in Stratford.

The 80Kw charge points are in place at Stagecoach’s garage in East London that will power the EV bus fleet serving the 323 route from Canning Town to Mile End.

UK Power Networks Services’ solution will charge the electric buses overnight and will continually monitor the amount of power available at the garage.

This night time charging approach will reduce costs for the bus garage, as it will be able to draw its maximum power requirement between 11pm and 6am when local electricity demand is low and electricity prices are cheaper.

The electric buses will operate within one of 12 Low Emission Bus Zones, introduced by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, in 2018 to tackle air pollution hotspots in the city and represent a further expansion of what is one of Europe’s largest electric bus fleets.

Having even more electric buses in operation will further contribute to improved air quality in the area, particularly as the route serves a number of large local schools including Bow School and St Paul’s Way Trust School.

Philip Heathcote, head of markets at UK Power Networks Services, said the project is another signal of the capital’s intent for all buses to be zero-emission by 2037.