First Bus is helping DPD with its rollout of electric vehicles by opening up access to its extensive rapid charging infrastructure in Glasgow.

DPD staff manager David Scott and First Bus Scotland commercial director Graeme Macfarlan at the Caledonia depot

The milestone move puts the bus company’s legacy ambitions from COP26 into effect while helping to make the city greener.

At the global climate change conference last year, First Bus set out its aim to offer local businesses use of the charging facilities at its Caledonia depot – which has 160 rapid charging points, supporting the operator’s ambition to be emission-free by 2035.

One year on, DPD has become the first company to officially sign up to the scheme.

The agreement means that DPD drivers will now have access to the site to charge their electric vehicles whilst in Glasgow, enabling them to travel a greater distance while making deliveries – without impacting the environment.

It also maximises the green potential of the First Bus charging hub while its own electric fleet is out in service – and the company has said it’s interested in hearing from other interested businesses and could roll the scheme out to other sites in future.

Graeme Macfarlan, commercial director at First Bus, said: “Electrifying fleets, and having the infrastructure in place to support them, is a mammoth undertaking, and it simply isn’t feasible for each and every business to build its own charging station. Reducing carbon emissions is a priority for us – not just to meet our own targets but because we’re committed to delivering cleaner, greener journeys for Glasgow. We’re already in conversation with other businesses and look forward to announcing further partnerships in the near future.”

Initially, eight DPD EVs from the firm’s Cambuslang depot will access the Caledonia site, as part of the trial period.  The expectation is that this number will increase to help support DPD’s growing EV fleet in the city, which is planned to total some 200 electric vans by the end of next year.

The company is working to become the most sustainable parcel delivery company in the UK and is on track to have over 3,000 EVs on the road this year and 4,000 by 2023, when it will be delivering to 30 towns and cities, including Glasgow, using EVs only.

Olly Craughan, head of sustainability at DPD, said: “The Caledonia depot is a fantastic facility and this is a really smart initiative between two brands that are investing in a greener future for Scotland.”

Jenny Gilruth, Scotland’s transport minister, added: “We all have to work together to end our contribution to climate change, and by making its charging infrastructure available to DPD, First Bus are leading the way.

“The Scottish Government provided over £5.9m to help deliver the infrastructure at the depot, and I am delighted that it is being used to support decarbonisation of last mile delivery as well as public transport.”