Electrifying bus fleets: Let’s bust some myths

By Jamie McAinsh, Chief Operating Officer at Aurora Utilities

By 2032, about half of the world’s buses will be battery-powered, according to Bloomberg. The electric bus has been somewhat of a success story when it comes to the decarbonisation of our transportation, but has getting there been a smooth ride and can more be done? Here’s some common myths of rolling out EV (electric vehicle) charging infrastructure for large fleets, and how we’re helping to bust them.

Navigating a path to net zero

There is thought to be more than three million buses on city roads around the world. Traditionally, they guzzled diesel as they helped the public commute from A to B, and this has contributed to the alarmingly high levels of greenhouse gas emissions recorded today. Clearly, something had to be done.

Some bus fleet operators looked to hydrogen as an alternative fuel source, and the Labour government recently announced a £21.7bn boost to carbon capture facilities and technologies. Carbon capture can be used to produce hydrogen which could be used to run transport such as bus fleets, that said it can be costly to produce and export it. Although more environmentally friendly than gas or diesel, electrifying vehicles is thought to be more sustainable.

This has led many international bus operators to choose to electrify their fleets instead. New data has shown that UK e-bus registrations increased by 76% last year. 

According to Transport for London, the capital of the UK boasts the largest zero emission bus fleet in western Europe with more than one in nine buses now zero emission. In fact, diesel buses were due to be removed from London by 2034 but Mayor Sadiq Khan wants to accelerate the switch to greener vehicles by four years. Can it be done?

Uphill challenges

Failing to scale up the UK’s e-charging infrastructure nationwide could put the breaks on the future growth. Space and power constraints at key sites in the UK are hurdles that most fleet operators will need to overcome. 

In addition, there’s the upfront costs and the issue of managing charging schedules for buses on busy routes that can’t afford any disruption to operations.

Here’s the top challenges and how the team at Aurora are helping to navigate them;

1. MYTH: It’s too costly to roll-out new charging infrastructure, making it impossible to electrify entire bus fleets. 

Our answer: This isn’t true. Yes there is an upfront cost of installing EV charging infrastructure, which can include an investment into hardware, the management software, cables, supplier contracts, cost of permits, etc., however it doesn’t need to be unaffordable. 

Independent Distribution Network Operators (IDNOs) like Aurora are in a unique position to offer an asset value payments or AVP upfront. This is when the IDNO generates revenue from charges paid by the consumer through the energy supplier, and some of this projected future revenue is used to offer a payment to the fleet operator at the beginning of the development. This payment can then be used to subsidise the cost of building the new network and unit, making it more affordable. 

We have seen first-hand where this payment can overhaul the operator’s plans, and help them to decarbonise their fleets quicker than before.

2. MYTH: Electrifying our bus fleet will cause too much disruption to operations, resulting in buses having unnecessary downtime which will negatively impact schedules and risk reputational damage with our customers.

Our answer: Bus operators worried about their reputation can in fact leverage the decarbonisation of their fleet as an opportunity to send a positive message to their customers. A survey found that more than half (55%) of people are likely to travel by bus more often if buses are powered by zero-emission electric, which demonstrates the need for more bus operators to go green to meet the changing beliefs of consumers today. 

As an IDNO, we don’t have to operate in one single region and instead focus on nationwide route planning, working with the operator to identify busy routes and charging hotspots to keep the buses on the roads for longer. Other forms of data such as weather and traffic, as well as the overall capabilities of the fleet across different areas, helps to form a plan for adequate charging and making sure schedules aren’t impacted. This strategy ensures that there is limited disruption to operations.

3. MYTH: We won’t be able to secure the required capacity needed for new charging infrastructure, and there won’t be enough power from the grid to get us connected.

Our answer: The team at Aurora have decades of experience navigating complex approvals chains, and have an in-depth understanding of local legislation to help fleet operators gain the necessary approvals to secure the capacity a project requires.

We collaborate with the local Distribution Network Operator (DNO) to make sure there is adequate capacity ahead of connecting the new infrastructure to the grid. This means fleet operators can roll out their new charging stations quicker and more efficiently than ever before with the peace of mind that the framework is in place to make their roll-out a success from day one. Aurora can also create a ramping agreement to ensure the capacity fluctuates over time, which is both cost-effective and more sustainable. 

Public transport is the backbone of society, helping anyone from any background get around in the most sustainable way. Getting more people to ride local buses can only be a good thing for community and for the environment, reducing the amount of cars on the roads. However, this will only be possible if our buses are clean and green, and overcoming common concerns regarding the transition to electric fleets is therefore a top priority to accelerate the move to net zero public transport.