Basildon has taken a major step towards a greener future with the launch of Essex’s first fully electric bus depot. The £30.6 million transformation of First Bus’s Cherrydown Way depot—completed in partnership with Essex County Council and supported by the Department for Transport’s ZEBRA2 scheme—marks a milestone for sustainable travel in the county.
All 55 new zero-emission buses are now operating across Basildon and South Essex, offering quieter rides, better air quality, and an improved passenger experience. The project includes new high-capacity chargers that allow buses to fully recharge overnight using Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO) electricity.
The initiative was made possible through a £4.8 million ZEBRA2 grant, alongside a £25.8 million investment from First Bus. The Basildon project forms part of First Bus’s national drive to decarbonise its operations. First Bus has more than 1,500 electric buses already in service and 16 depots electrified nationwide.
The new Basildon electric fleet is expected to cut 4,000 tonnes of CO₂ each year—the equivalent of removing 2,000 cars from local roads.
