‘First Charge’ launch: First Bus to open charging at 15 depots to the public

15 First Bus depots in Scotland and England will be opened to third parties in an effort to support the transition to net zero — for businesses, fleet operators, and now, in Glasgow, for the wider public. The move is part of First Bus ‘First Charge’ initiative.

The First Bus Caledonia depot in Glasgow is leading the launch by offering the company’s first in-depot charging to the general public.  

In May 2025, Paua, the UK electric vehicle charging solution for business fleets, had announced a partnership with First Bus, that enables shared access to First Bus depots for third-party commercial electric vehicles (EVs).

First Bus already shares its depot-based charging facilities with leading businesses across the UK —including DPD, Centrica, Openreach, and Police Scotland. By opening its depots to third-party EV users through First Charge, First Bus aims helping to address a critical gap in charging infrastructure — particularly for commercial operators who need reliable, high-power charging in urban areas.  

Isabel McAllister, First Bus UK Chief Sustainability and Compliance Officer, said: “At First Bus, we’re progressing rapidly towards our goal of a zero-emission fleet by 2035, with an investment of over £320m to date. With First Charge, we’re building on our position as an industry leader, sharing our infrastructure to accelerate decarbonisation to help other users move faster too.”