National Express has partnered with Zenobe to make use of pop-up charging stations specially set up for its shuttle services to the Glastonbury Festival, which begins today.
With the operator providing battery-electric buses for the world-renowned event for the first time, Zenobe has provided not only the eight double-deckers but four fast chargers and a Powerskid made from second-life batteries.
The electric bus shuttle service between Bristol Bus and Coach Station and Worthy Farm began yesterday and will carry festival-goers back and forth over the five days of the event and until Monday.
Each of the buses will be able to travel up to 173 miles on a single charge and the operator calculates that, with each vehicle expected to make three journeys per day, it will thus avoid 348g of carbon emissions. The temporary charging installations mean power is provided where it is needed and saves extra mileage to a central bus depot.
In order to cut down on noise and air pollution, the Powerskid refurbished battery rather than a diesel generation is being used to deliver the portable power.
National Express describes this infrastructure as “a first of its kind prototype approach for other festivals and large-scale events to replicate”.
More than 60 destinations overall will be served by the operator’s dedicated Glastonbury services this week.
Steven Meersman, Co-Founder and Director of Zenobē, says: “This summer we’re providing the first sustainable bus route to what is arguably the world’s most iconic music festival, and we’re pleased to be partnering with National Express to reach another milestone together.
“We’ve paired two of Zenobe’s unique offers: second-life EV batteries and our Electric Transport as-a-Service platform, to enable National Express to easily and affordably access an electric bus fleet and conveniently charge it near to the festival site.
“It marks an important step in the decarbonisation of the festivals and events industry, where huge numbers of people flock to remote locations for just a few days but to date have not had sustainable ways of getting there. It’s an innovative solution for sustainable festival and events travel which we look forward to introducing to the sector.”
Tom Berry, Zero Emissions Vehicle Specialist at National Express, adds: “We’re pleased to be able to run these zero emission buses for the very first time to Glastonbury, a festival which has always had sustainability at its very core.
“As the official coach travel partner for Glastonbury, we’re experienced in providing reliable and affordable dedicated services direct to Worthy Farm, carrying over 12,000 revellers from all over the UK each year.
“It’s great to be able to work with Zenobe to introduce more sustainable means of public transport for our customers and by having access to pop-up chargers on site for the first time, we’re able to operate our festival services more efficiently – leading the charge in cleaner and greener travel solutions.”
