A leading independent bus operator in Surrey, Falcon Coaches, has signed a new agreement with VEV, the e-fleet solutions provider supported by Vitol, to enable the electrification of its new fleet of buses.
Falcon’s West Byfleet depot’s end-to-end electrification project makes it possible for the new electric bus fleet to be adopted and operated at a reasonable cost. Thirteen brand-new Enviro200EV electric buses from top UK manufacturer Alexander Dennis will be delivered in 2026 as part of the transition’s initial phase.
VEV facilitated a comprehensive grid update after the first electrification consulting and power evaluation. They will also design, acquire, and construct the charging infrastructure. To maximize energy use and charging infrastructure, the electric fleet will be linked to VEV-IQ, the proprietary fleet data management platform.
With all 50 buses meeting Euro 6-standard and 56% of the fleet being ultra-low carbon vehicles, Falcon already runs one of Surrey’s cleanest low-carbon bus fleets. The extensive electrification plan, which is expected to contribute to a reduction of 10,454 tonnes in carbon emissions over the course of the 13 completely electric, zero emission buses’ lifetime, further supports Falcon’s efforts to decarbonize.
The project is being supported by Surrey County Council as part of its Surrey Climate Change Strategy, which aims to achieve net zero by 2050 and provides a framework for coordinated climate action across Surrey’s local authorities and partners. In 2019, the council announced a Climate Emergency and pledged £32 million to expedite Surrey’s transition to zero-emission buses.
An obstacle to the electrification goals was the Falcon West Byfleet depot’s location in an industrial development with limited space and energy that borders a railroad line. Using Falcon’s telematics, route patterns, and power requirements, VEV carried out the first electrification assessment.
Securing the extra power capacity was the top priority, and VEV made it possible to enhance the grid by 1.5 MVA, future-proofing the depot’s ability to handle up to 35 electric buses. Installing the charging infrastructure and delivering power to the depot will require a carefully planned half-mile excavation.
The VEV-IQ control platform is connected to the new fleet of electric buses in order to maximize efficiency and reduce operating expenses. All buses will be dynamically charged once on VEV-IQ, adhering to any site grid restrictions or limitations, and making sure they are completely charged for the duty cycle the next day.
Key Comments
Mike Nakrani, CEO of VEV said:
“We’re looking forward to enabling Falcon’s vision for a clean, electric bus fleet to become a reality. Bus electrification represents a huge opportunity in the race to achieve net zero for the UK, local authorities, and our local communities. Bus operators therefore have a significant role to play in switching to electric fleets, and we help them navigate the challenges they can face in making that happen.”
Richard Telling, Managing Director of Falcon Coaches said:
“As a leading independent bus operator, we have a duty to provide our customers and local residents with an efficient, environmentally friendly service that’s fit for purpose today and in the future. We’re delighted to have the expertise of VEV to help us meet the challenges of switching our fleet to electric, and together we’re working to ensure our West Byfleet depot is futureproofed for up to 35 electric buses – both in terms of power-capacity and space on-site. We’re hugely excited to see the project unfold ahead of the service commencing in 2026.”
Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth said:
“I am delighted that we have purchased a further electric 13 buses as part of our £32m investment in providing sustainable travel options for residents and cleaner air for everyone. This means over 60 ultra-low and zero emission buses will be operating across the county, which is great news for Surrey residents.
“We’ve also invested £6.3m in more ultra-low and zero emission community transport minibuses, £9m in bus priority measures to ensure Surrey buses turn up on time, and £1.4m in improving information for passengers at bus stops.
“Our Surrey LINK card gives young people half-price bus travel and we’ve recently expanded our on-demand Surrey Connect bus services to cover areas where there are limited fixed bus routes, giving more options to travel by bus for all residents across Surrey.
“This is a great example of partnership working with investment from both the public and private sectors, and I look forward to seeing the new buses in service in 2026.”