Press release
13 new electric buses for Surrey
Bus passengers in Surrey are set to benefit from cleaner, quieter bus travel as the first of Falcon Buses’ fleet of 13 new electric buses enter service this week.
The new zero-emission vehicles have hit the road on route 436 between Weybridge and Woking, serving Brooklands Museum and Mercedes-Benz World, with route 461 (between Kingston, Walton on Thames, Weybridge, Addlestone and St Peter's Hospital) set to follow later this summer.
Falcon's British-built buses have been designed to carry up to 37 seated passengers each and include full air-conditioning and USB charging points throughout. The buses also include two wheelchair and buggy spaces, making them easy to use for passengers with reduced mobility and those travelling with pushchairs.
The launch marks a major milestone for the family-owned, West Byfleet-based operator, which is aiming to become one of the UK's first independent bus companies to run a fully electric bus fleet.
Richard Telling, Managing Director of Falcon Buses, said: "This is a hugely significant milestone for Falcon. Introducing our first electric buses marks the beginning of a new chapter for the business and demonstrates our commitment to delivering cleaner, quieter and more sustainable transport for the communities we serve.”
Supported by Surrey County Council and the Department for Transport's Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA 2) programme, the new electric buses will help to improve air quality and are predicted to reduce carbon emissions by around 13,000 tonnes.
Steve Bax, Deputy Cabinet Member for Highways at Surrey County Council, said: “It’s great to see these new vehicles out on the road, adding to the county’s growing fleet of cleaner, greener buses.
“Introducing these buses is expected to deliver an estimated carbon saving of thirteen thousand tonnes over their lifetime, which is great news for residents and for everyone travelling in and out of Surrey. We are committed to becoming a net-zero county by 2050 and reducing carbon emissions from transport will be absolutely key to achieving this.”
Falcon has worked with commercial fleet electrification specialist VEV to upgrade the depot on Wintersells Road with new charging infrastructure that will eventually be capable of supporting over 40 electric buses.
Barry Keane, Senior Account Manager at VEV, said: “I grew up in Weybridge and couldn’t be prouder to be supporting Falcon with this project. It's about more than installing chargers. It’s about giving a local business the confidence they need that they can make the transition to zero-emission transport without compromising on reliability for passengers.
“Every successful electric bus transition starts with the right infrastructure. At Falcon Coaches, we’ve delivered a charging solution that’s designed not only for today’s operations, but for tomorrow’s ambitions.”
ENDS
About Falcon
Falcon Buses is Surrey’s premier coach and bus company. A family-owned business based in Byfleet, Surrey, Falcon runs scheduled bus services throughout North East Surrey, and is conveniently located to deliver coach services throughout Surrey and Greater London. The team at Falcon has developed over 30 years of knowledge from the coach and bus industry, bringing extensive expertise in the management of large independent operators to offer premier coach and bus services across a fleet of 75 vehicles.
More information at www.falconbuses.co.uk/our-history
About VEV
VEV helps organisations accelerate fleet electrification and make the most of the energy transition with an end-to-end solution that spans strategy, infrastructure, energy and ongoing operations.
At the core of VEV’s offering is VEV IQ, an intelligent charging and energy management platform that provides real-time visibility and control across thousands of chargers, vehicles and energy assets to enable smart charging optimisation, reduced energy costs and reliable fleet performance at scale.
More information at www.vev.com