**London**: In November 2024, Schneider Electric announced a collaboration with Stagecoach to electrify UK bus fleets, providing essential infrastructure and innovative software. The partnership seeks to enhance energy efficiency while addressing the challenges of transitioning to electric vehicles and reducing emissions effectively.
In November 2024, Schneider Electric announced a significant collaboration with Stagecoach to spearhead the electrification of the operator’s bus fleets across the UK. This partnership aims to facilitate the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) by providing essential infrastructure, software, and services during the electrification process.
At the core of this collaboration is Schneider’s innovative “smart e-mobility” solution, which supplies electrical substations and ultra-rapid charging stations vital for the operation of electric buses. Additionally, Schneider’s advanced software is designed to monitor and control the electricity flow, enhancing energy efficiency and reducing emissions. The company also offers a membership scheme called EcoCare, which ensures 24/7 remote monitoring and maintenance, thereby minimising infrastructure downtime.
Schneider Electric’s involvement positions the company as a key player in the UK EV market, emphasising its ability to deliver solutions locally while addressing global sustainability concerns. The company has been expanding its manufacturing and operational capabilities within the UK, intending to offer not only value for money but also environmentally responsible solutions.
Schneider Electric’s strategy is founded on providing an end-to-end solution tailored to meet the needs of its partners. David Hall, Schneider’s Vice President of Power Systems for the UK and Ireland, conveyed the challenges inherent in the electrification process for not just buses but all sectors of road transport, highlighting the rapid yet sometimes unpredictable shift towards electric mobility.
“The process to electrification still presents a huge challenge for the EV market,” said Hall, as he acknowledged the high capital expenditure (capex) often required for the rollout of new infrastructure. He noted that while it might be tempting to deliver comprehensive infrastructure at an initial high cost, Schneider Electric prefers to adopt a long-term partnership model prioritising scalability and gradual implementation.
Once a grid connection is established, Schneider Electric can construct a unit capable of hosting up to 42 vehicle chargers, but will initially provide between six to ten chargers. This scalable approach allows operators to gradually expand their charging capabilities as they electrify more routes without the need to overhaul initial investments. “That gives an operator an easy way into this,” Hall explained. He emphasised that maintaining operational uptime is crucial and highlighted the proactive monitoring benefits provided by Schneider’s EcoStruxure solution.
Tony Cockroft, Stagecoach’s Asset Management and Infrastructure Director, underscored the advantages of the collaboration, particularly the streamlined process it offers. “We partnered with Schneider mainly for a single point of contact across our electrical distribution equipment, allowing a quicker delivery time and for any issues to be cleared through one company,” Cockroft stated. With the EcoStruxure platform’s continuous monitoring, the partnership seeks to enhance service uptime and mitigate the risk of in-service failures.
As electric vehicle adoption continues to evolve, uncertainties remain regarding investment levels, partially influenced by regulatory frameworks. Hall expressed concern about the unpredictable nature of the EV market, which has witnessed fluctuations in electric vehicle sales. He suggested that companies might benefit from a modular approach, allowing them to spread investments across multiple locations rather than concentrating them in a single facility.
Stagecoach has been at the forefront of efforts to collaborate with local authorities in implementing electrified fleets through 40 projects across the UK in the last five years. Cockroft shared that though progress has been made, challenges remain in terms of infrastructure planning, as local authorities do not directly control the electricity network.
“We collaborate with all stakeholders to aim to reduce total cost of ownership for electric fleets; this will help us to drive forward our decarbonisation plans,” Cockroft noted, acknowledging the complexities involved.
David Hall remarked that the momentum for decarbonisation has accelerated, given the increasing scrutiny surrounding road traffic emissions and local authorities now exploring various strategies to curb pollution. To effectively transition to electric fleets, strong partnerships will be vital, as local councils often struggle with operational management and the need for commercial efficiency in public transport systems.
“If partnership approach is what it takes,…. they must also facilitate an agreement that does not leave the private companies such as Stagecoach exposed to stranded assets,” Hall stated, indicating the need for carefully structured agreements as electrification progresses.
In the context of this rapidly evolving landscape, Schneider Electric announced plans for a new manufacturing facility in Scarborough, with an investment of £42 million, dedicated to supporting the electrification of road transport. Hall remarked on the strategic importance of electrification to Schneider’s growth agenda, highlighting the rapid pace of development within the electrification of transport compared to other sectors.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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