Force partners with First Charge to power electric vehicles at Basildon depot

Essex Police has partnered with First Charge, the third-party electric vehicle charging initiative from First Bus, to support the continued rollout of electric vehicles.

Through the partnership, Essex Police is using high-power charging infrastructure at First Bus’s Basildon depot to support its growing electric fleet, which this year will increase to 50 electric vehicles. The force expects this to increase the number of electric vehicles in its fleet, as part of its longer-term ambition to decarbonise a fleet of just under 800 vehicles.

Essex Police began transitioning vehicles to electric in 2022, initially using the public charging network. As the electric fleet has expanded, access to reliable, high-capacity charging has become critical to operational delivery.

Charging vehicles at First Bus’s Basildon depot provides secure, high-power infrastructure to support the continued rollout of electric vehicles while reducing reliance on public charging provision.

The partnership comes as police forces and other emergency services work towards government targets to transition to zero-emission vehicles, including the 2035 deadline for the phase-out of new petrol and diesel cars and vans.

For organisations with large, operationally critical fleets, the cost of installing new charging infrastructure, alongside securing sufficient grid capacity, can present significant financial and practical challenges.

Jason Tyrrell, Acting Head of Fleet at Essex Police, said: “We are committed to reducing the environmental impact of our fleet while continuing to catch criminals and keep people safe across Essex.

“Moving to electric vehicles is a key part of that journey, but access to suitable charging infrastructure is essential. Working with First Bus through First Charge allows us to support the expansion of our electric fleet using existing, high-power infrastructure, while maintaining the operational resilience our service requires.”

Andy Gwilliam, Head of Product at First Charge, said: “We’re pleased to welcome Essex Police as a First Charge customer at our Basildon depot.

“Using First Charge can be significantly more cost-effective than relying solely on public charging, particularly for fleets that need regular, high-power charging. It also helps free up public charge points for members of the public, reducing pressure on local charging infrastructure while ensuring critical public services have the access they need.

“First Charge is about making better use of existing electric charging infrastructure to support organisations as they transition their fleets to zero-emission vehicles. With a growing network of electric depots across the UK, we’re able to provide access to high-power charging in locations where public provision is limited.”

First Charge was launched to support the wider adoption of electric vehicles by opening up First Bus’s electric depot charging infrastructure to third-party users, including commercial fleets and public-sector organisations. The initiative now operates across a growing national network of electric bus depots, helping organisations access reliable, high-power charging without the need for immediate, large-scale infrastructure investment.

Andy Gwilliam concludes: “This partnership with Essex Police demonstrates how shared charging infrastructure can support the decarbonisation of essential public services while enabling organisations to transition their fleets at a pace that is both operationally and financially sustainable.

“We look forward to working with more public- and private-sector organisations to help remove some of the practical barriers to fleet electrification.”

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