The Green Miles’ nine question decarbonisation challenge – Andy Gwilliam

Since joining First Bus, Andy Gwilliam has led key electrification projects including those in Leicester, Bramley and York, which collectively delivered almost 200 zero-emission buses.

These projects laid for the foundation for the 1,300+ vehicles First Bus now has in service. Gwilliam is responsible for its technology stack, roadmap and standardisation across vehicles, chargers and software.

First Bus is one of the UK’s largest operators. It is committed to operating a zero-emission bus fleet by 2035 and will have more than 1,500 zero-emission buses in service by the end of 2026.

Through First Charge, its commercial electric vehicle charging service, it opens up its high-powered depot charging infrastructure to other fleet operators.

Right, let’s get down to it…

9. What are the biggest common sustainability challenges facing the whole logistics sector in your opinion?

While the market for vehicles and chargers has matured, the cost of investing in infrastructure and getting connected can be huge, and on-road charging remains stubbornly expensive.

This is where we saw an opportunity for our First Charge initiative, to help address some of these costs by offering low cost, high volume and high reliability charging on our already electrified sites built for large vehicles.

8. What are the hottest topics in decarbonisation for the HGV sector?

I think many conversations arrive at TCO right now as the biggest barrier to adoption of net zero technologies. Moving a business to net zero needs a holistic approach, it isn’t just about how you turn the wheels on the vehicles, it is how you transition the whole business and set it up to meet the challenges but also exploit the opportunities of this change.

Passing our 1000th EV milestone earlier this year, there was a sense that we were changing from a diesel bus business that also ran EVs, to an EV-centric business. That change in thinking is powerful.

7. Do you think the UK’s net zero goals are realistic?

We must view climate change as an emergency, and in this context our goals are both realistic and necessary. The difference between this and other emergencies is the timeline on which it takes place.

The pandemic swept across the world in months, and we could see its impact played out in front of us and as a society we felt able to carry out drastic actions which affected our lives in very real ways.

Climate change will touch everyone on the planet, and may cost a great many lives, but its effects are sometimes indirect and will play out over generations. It’s harder to compel people to act on this sort of timeline, so I understand leaders setting ambitious targets, it’s for us to come together and collaborate to meet this challenge.

Logistics people are problem solvers, day in day out. Let’s treat this as another problem to solve, one step at a time, and together.

6. What are the specific challenges faced by the different modal sectors?

I think the key is to address the challenges of all logistics together and not necessarily sector by sector. Technologies and capabilities being developed and improved in trucks, buses and vans will cross-pollinate as we are already seeing.

In terms of charging infrastructure, sites can be designed to meet the needs of local business from the outset whatever vehicle they are operating. Businesses can cluster around a high-powered grid connection for instance, where a bus operator might use the infrastructure at night, last-mile delivery, a factory or a data centre might use it during the day, so improving the utilisation of these expensive assets.

Bringing different modes together into conducive transport systems is key to efficiency and therefore TCO.

5. What are the best examples of positive breakthroughs you have seen in the last decade?

We are now seeing the first 15-year battery warranties on the market, and this is a direct result of improvements not only in the technology but in the manufacturing and implementation of it.

Having this level of surety really is game changing for an operator, and although I have always had faith that lithium-ion batteries would outlast many of the early estimates, this has been a (welcome) surprise even to me. We are entering an era where the battery may well outlast the vehicle (or husk as we refer to it) and separating the lifecycle and financing of the two can really turn the economics on its head.

4. Who is an inspirational figure in logistics?

I would like to say David Collins, founder of Collins Earthworks who is sadly no longer with us.

Seeing its Volvo eHGVs charging at our Leicester depot, dirty after their day’s work hauling materials up and down the M1, was really inspiring. This wasn’t a publicity stunt, these are eHGVs out in the wild, fielded by a pioneering company that decided to go it alone and find a way to make it work. I’m glad we are able to support them.

3. With the growing emphasis on sustainability, do you see rail freight competing with road and air transport?

Yes, I think all modes have their part to play. The key is having them all work together as part of an integrated and efficient transport system, and this might be the hardest thing to get right. In several areas we are working with local authorities to do exactly this, with multi-modal ticketing making journeys seamless.

It’s possible to see some of these principles applied in other logistics sectors, although we recognise that our passengers move in very different ways to freight!

2. How do logistics companies deal with ‘first mover hesitancy’?

I would say the first movers are already out there thanks to the ZEHID programme and those companies choosing to go it alone. It is important now to spread these learnings and encourage the next cohort of ‘fast followers’ to engage their own plans.

Talking and sharing to improve understanding, collaborating and partnering to share risk and aggregating demand to take advantage of economies of scale.

1. You are Prime Minister for the day – you can change/implement one thing – what is it?

I would say addressing some of the inequality in our world, ensuring that everyone can play their part and benefit from this transition.

Doing your bit to tackle climate change comes at a premium right now, we must change that, the future must be for everyone.