More than 300 electric bus charge points have been installed through a partnership between Finnish DC fast charging manufacturer Kempower and UK EV infrastructure firm EO Charging.
The two companies joined forces in 2022 to bolster charging infrastructure for e-buses across the UK, which is currently Europe’s biggest buyer of zero-emission buses.
Around 1,570 new zero-emission buses hit UK roads in 2024, representing a 36% year-on-year increase. The partnership between Kempower and EO Charging was established to ensure the positive uptake in e-buses is matched with sufficient charging infrastructure to ensure a smooth transition, the firms said.
Over the course of three years, Kempower and EO Charging have collaborated to fit a total of 11 bus depots with fast charging infrastructure, primarily located in London and Scotland, working with bus operators like Metroline, Go Ahead and Stagecoach.
Kempower and EO have installed 342 chargers, with a further 150 already in build, with the total energy delivered to electric buses currently standing at 20.23 GWh – an estimated emissions saving of 26 million kg CO₂.
Most recently, the companies partnered to install three pantographs in Scotland, with Kempower supplying the technology and EO Charging delivering the installation. It marked Kempower’s first commercial pantograph installation project in the Northern Hemisphere, having completed its first in Sydney, Australia in July 2024.
Pantographs deliver power to buses through an overhead connector rather than a plug-in cable. Kempower’s pantograph solution enables charging speeds of up to 500kW – facilitating quick bursts of charging and reducing downtime during operating hours.
Rolle Nieminen, Kempower’s Head of Sales for the UK and Ireland, said:
“The successful delivery of pantograph infrastructure in Scotland shows that the UK’s bus networks are ready for fast, automated charging built for reliability. By partnering with EO Charging, we’re helping operators scale up their electric fleets with confidence and ensuring public transport keeps moving as the e-mobility sector grows.”
Philip Kershaw, Director of eBus at EO Charging, said:
“Deploying more than 300 bus charging points in partnership with Kempower shows what’s possible when infrastructure expertise meets world-class charging technology. We’re really proud of the work we’ve delivered for our joint customers so far and are excited to continue working together to lead the expansion of e-Bus infrastructure across the UK and Europe.”
Image courtesy of Kempower and EO Charging
