Stagecoach, Schneider & the Decarbonisation of Bus Networks
All aboard, next stop decarbonisation.
Stagecoach, one of the UK’s biggest public transport providers, has announced a huge collaboration with French energy management titan Schneider Electric.
The deal will see Schneider Electric (second place in Sustainability Magazine's Top 250 Companies 2024) provide Stagecoach with EV charging infrastructure across multiple UK sites as the British bus company seeks to make progress towards net zero by electrifying its fleet.
This initiative aligns with the broader goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the domestic transport sector, which accounted for almost one-third of the UK's total emissions in 2023.
Stagecoach, which provides transport for millions of Britons every day, is now looking to address this issue head on.
The details of the deal
So, what exactly will this new collaboration involve? Firstly, Schneider is providing Stagecoach with its EcoStruxure for eMobility technology.
This suite of tech includes ultra-rapid EV charging points and electrical distribution infrastructure, all of which are tailored to meet the growing needs of Stagecoach’s electric fleet.
Schneider’s EcoCare membership programme will also be included in the deal, offering Stagecoach 24/7 remote monitoring and predictive maintenance services which can minimise the downtime of buses.
What do Stagecoach’s executives make of the deal? Tony Cockcroft, Stagecoach's Asset Management and Infrastructure Director, is particularly enthusiastic.
"Stagecoach is committed to zero-emission transport, and we are expanding our fleet of state-of-the-art electric buses to meet our goals,” he says.
“As part of this transition, it’s vital we have the infrastructure to ensure smart, reliable charging of our fleet."
The challenges of decarbonising public transport
The decarbonisation of bus networks is not without its challenges. The need to balance operational requirements with sustainability goals is a common hurdle for many transport operators.
David Hall, Schneider Electric’s Vice President for Power Systems in the UK and Ireland, says: "Picking up the pace of the electrification of public transport is critical as we head towards our net-zero targets.
“For many, it can be challenging to match operational needs with sustainability goals."
Stagecoach's operations are vast and complicated, connecting more than 100 towns and cities in the UK.
Maintaining full operational capacity whilst transitioning to a different fleet may prove tricky at points in the future, but there is hope that the flexibility of Schneider's tech will be useful in that regard.
How Stagecoach plans to transition to 100% renewable transport
Stagecoach’s strategy involves a modular approach to infrastructure development, meaning the deployment of Schneider Electric’s tech will be flexible across its sites.
This flexibility is going to be crucial in adapting to future demands and technological advancements, allowing Stagecoach’s strategy some scalability as its EV fleet expands.
The company has acquired 402 new electric buses, spread across the country. This collaboration with Schneider is set to serve all of these vehicles, as well as those to follow in the near future.
The partnership with Schneider Electric also speaks to Stagecoach’s desire to maintain its vehicles using smart technology.
As part of this new deal, Schneider will provide the British transport provider with data analytics and condition-based strategies which give live readings on the condition of all vehicles.
"Our new approach to support and maintenance means we can take a more proactive, planned approach, working hand-in-hand with Schneider Electric experts,” says Tony.
“We can quickly identify possible issues before they become major headaches and plan our works with minimal impact on our bus services."
The future of public transport
As Stagecoach steams ahead towards its goal of zero emissions by 2050, this new deal will likely prove invaluable.
More broadly, the collaboration with Schneider speaks to the power of strategic partnerships in pursuing sustainability, as is evident all throughout the transport sector.
As David succinctly puts it: "We are working with Stagecoach to ensure it has the infrastructure, insights and support it needs to ensure reliable, greener journeys for its passengers."
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