• Bus and rail operator Abellio is launching its first fleet of electric buses in the city, on one of two routes in the capital.
• Zenobē Energy will own and operate the batteries on the bus, run and maintain the charging infrastructure in the depot, and fund the buses.
• This is the first example of an end-to-end ‘electric bus as a service’ scheme in London.

Abellio and Zenobē Energy, a leading UK owner and operator of battery storage, today announce the launch of an electric fleet of buses in the capital. This week saw the first five buses operate on route P5, helping to improve air quality in areas across south London. The project brings a total of 34 electric buses to the C10 and P5 bus routes.

Zenobē, which serves around 20% of the EV bus market in the UK, is providing Abellio with an end-to-end solution, including financing, batteries, the charging system at the depot and a software platform which helps optimise energy use. It’s the first example of an end-to-end, fully funded and managed service with private capital.

Abellio London, which operates buses for TfL, brings zero emission buses onto routes C10 (Canada Water to Victoria Station) and P5 (Patmore Estate to Elephant and Castle). The brand- new buses are manufactured by Portuguese company CaetanoBus. The project marks the first use of Caetano’s electric buses in the UK.

Whilst using public transport provides the cleanest solution per passenger, the use of electric buses takes the pollution impact to zero. Zenobē’s solutions support The Mayor of London’s commitment to improving London’s air quality and are helping speed up the process of bringing zero-emission vehicles onto the UK’s roads.

In May 2019, Zenobē announced its £120 million partnership funding for fleet operators, helping accelerate the roll out of electric vehicles across Britain.

Steven Meersman, co-founder of Zenobē Energy, said:

“We are very pleased to support Abellio on their journey to net zero and delighted to contribute to the deployment of Zero Emission Vehicles in London.

“Our service-based model means we’re there for our partners throughout the journey, not just on day one. It shows that innovative green solutions can be sustainable in both ecological and financial terms. We hope our partnership with Abellio paves the way for other opportunities in London to improve journey quality for commuters and support operators on route to net-zero.”

Tony Wilson, Managing Director at Abellio London Bus, said:

“At Abellio, we continuously look for new, sustainable solutions to improve our services. Working with Zenobe has allowed us to do so in a way that is not only good for TfL, bus customers and the environment but is also cost-effective. The battery storage solution at our depot helps us ensure we can deliver reliable services, while also improving air quality for local people every day.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

For further information, please contact:

Aga Maciejewska (zenobe@standagency.com)

About Zenobe Energy Ltd. (Zenobē)

Zenobē Energy is one of the largest independent owners and operators of battery storage in the UK with 73 MW of operational assets, serves around 20% of the electric bus sector in the UK, its own proprietary software and a large portfolio of projects in the pipeline. Zenobē provides intelligent flexible power solutions to commercial EV fleet operators, utilities and industrial and commercial businesses. The company’s battery storage services help clients manage power more effectively so they can lower costs, improve resilience and reduce their environmental impact. Please visit here to find out more: www.Zenobe.com

The operator’s first charging project brought 9 electric buses to Guildford, in partnership with Surrey County Council and Stagecoach. Zenobē-powered buses also already operate on the roads in Newport and will launch in Leeds in the coming months.

About Abellio Bus

Abellio London bus operates bus services across London on behalf of Transport for London, plus rail replacement and event services across the UK. It operates over eight per cent of London bus network, running 800 vehicles and employing 2,500 staff across Central, South and West London. It is part of Abellio UK, one of Britain’s largest transport operators, providing services for more than a million rail and bus passengers daily in England and Scotland.