Zenobē and SQE to manage power for National Express Bus fleet

National Express Bus has entered a two-year agreement with energy supply platform SQE and battery storage specialist Zenobē to overhaul its UK energy procurement model. The deal replaces a traditional fixed-price contract with a dynamic solution that allows the operator to purchase electricity at live wholesale prices and sell unused energy back to the grid.

Under the arrangement, Zenobē will manage 47GW/h of renewable energy through SQE’s platform, supporting National Express Bus’s goal of achieving a zero-emission fleet. The model reflects the operator’s charging profile, with 80-90% of energy consumption occurring overnight as vehicles return to depots. SQE provides site-specific, half-hourly consumption data and transparent invoicing across the network, giving National Express Bus greater visibility over its energy use.

The solution currently covers 467 electric buses. By purchasing energy in line with actual usage and reconciling against live market prices, the operator can manage cost exposure during periods of market volatility.

Roy Brewer, Head of Strategic Sourcing at Mobico Group, parent company of National Express Bus, said: “As volatility in the energy market continues, we need to be smarter about how we buy energy. SQE and Zenobē’s approach is a breath of fresh air in corporate energy procurement.”

Al Wilson, Power Procurement and Renewable Solutions Director at Zenobē, added: “Zenobē’s coordinated approach with SQE is market-leading in the transport sector and will protect the long-term financial viability of electric bus operations into the future.”

Source: Zenobē