Ember: Electric coach service

[MasterSpenny]

I reckon they should use the triaxles for Glasgow and Edinburgh, services are getting busier, Tce12s are fine for a new Aberdeen service IMO.

Or have the route get a frequency increase with additional coaches

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

Monymusk Park – keep
Panmurefield – probably drop
Ethiebeaton Park – keep
Muirdrum – drop
Arbroath – keep one stop in the town centre

Marywell – drop
Inverkeilor – keep
Ferryden – drop
Montrose – keep one stop, probably on the main road to save time

St Cyrus – keep
Johnshaven – keep
Gourdon – drop, too close to Inverbervie
Inverbervie – keep
(The next three stops in the middle of nowhere can be dropped)

Stonehaven, keep one stop in town centre
Newtonhill – keep
Portlethen – keep one stop

Interesting you’d choose to drop the stops which would add very little extra time to stop at on request as they don’t require a diversion off the main route. These can be busy stops on the X7 too!

 

[Blindtraveler]

A lot of those could be bookable departures or request only arrivals to be honest and if you did that then you'd give the x7 a serious run for its money.

 

[christopherrfc]

New E10 service starting in January.

PM2025892/4 New

EMBER CORE LTD

E10

MSIP, Dundee

Greenmarket, Dundee

 

[Buzby]

Starts and ends in Dundee?

How innovative!

 

[overthewater]

Looks to be a depot run service.

 

[PG]

New E10 service starting in January.

Starts and ends in Dundee?

MSIP (MICHELIN SCOTLAND INNOVATION PARC) is listed as an operating centre for Ember, so given the fact that the registration is for a Limited Stop service its likely a works service either for Ember staff or another company at MSIP.

 

[kez19]

MSIP (MICHELIN SCOTLAND INNOVATION PARC) is listed as an operating centre for Ember, so given the fact that the registration is for a Limited Stop service its likely a works service either for Ember staff or another company at MSIP.

I have seen their coaches come along Drumgeith Road to and from there, it be a handy service for us locals in Whitfield getting home quicker than the 17 service that Xplore run lol

 

[Tayway]

If it was only for staff use then presumably it wouldn't have three "via" points on the registration? I can imagine it bringing in a modest amount if it is open to the public given most of the Xplore/Stagecoach options are painfully slow.

 

[Spsf3232]

In 2021 they received funding for 4 Arrival buses to be delivered, however I don't think that will be happening with Arrival. Could it be the funding has been used for alternative service vehicles which would be ideal for a city route?

 

[Dfatcontroller]

In 2021 they received funding for 4 Arrival buses to be delivered, however I don't think that will be happening with Arrival, could it be the funding has been used for alternative service vehicles which would be ideal for a city route

The 2021 funding for the Arrival vehicles was used to purchase 4 more Yutong coaches instead. SG72NBX-NCA are the four delivered.

Source - email exchange between myself and the owners.

 

[overthewater]

I take it we're now looking even further into 2024 before its expansion to Aberdeen takes place?

 

[Scotrail88]

There was registration changes posted on VOSA last week - not sure what they are.
Just changes for E1 & 3

 

[route101]

How many coaches do Ember have and are they all the same type?

 

[MasterSpenny]

How many coaches do Ember have and are they all the same type?

As per bustimes.org, they have 18. They are all Yutong TCe12s.

Fleet list – Ember – bustimes.org

bustimes.org

Last tracked	Type	Livery	Branding
	SG22 LTT	E3	24 Nov 08:43	Yutong TCe12	Ember	Flickr	Edit
	SG22 LTU	E3	28 Nov 08:43	Yutong TCe12	Ember	Flickr	Edit
	SG22 LTV	E3	26 Nov 19:04	Yutong TCe12	Ember	Flickr	Edit
	SG22 LTX	E3	23 Nov 10:02	Yutong TCe12	Ember	Flickr	Edit
	SG23 ORO	E1	28 Nov 06:26	Yutong TCe12	Ember	Flickr	Edit
	SG23 ORX	E3	23 Nov 08:43	Yutong TCe12	Ember	Flickr	Edit
	SG71 OTA	E1	28 Nov 09:15	Yutong TCe12	Ember	Flickr	Edit
	SG71 OTF	E1	28 Nov 07:42	Yutong TCe12	Ember	Flickr	Edit
	SG72 NBX	E3	27 Nov 17:48	Yutong TCe12	Ember	Flickr	Edit
	SG72 NBY	E3	28 Nov 00:48	Yutong TCe12	Ember	Flickr	Edit
	SG72 NBZ	E1	27 Nov 11:24	Yutong TCe12	Ember	Flickr	Edit
	SG72 NCA	E1	28 Nov 09:04	Yutong TCe12	Ember	Flickr	Edit
	SG72 NCC	E3	28 Nov 10:02	Yutong TCe12	Ember	Flickr	Edit
	SG72 NCD	E3	28 Nov 06:46	Yutong TCe12	Ember	Flickr	Edit
	SG72 NCE	E1	28 Nov 10:12	Yutong TCe12	Ember	Flickr	Edit
	SG72 NCF	E3	28 Nov 09:30	Yutong TCe12	Ember	Flickr	Edit
	YD70 CHX	E1	11 May 15:06	Yutong TCe12		E1	Flickr	Edit
	YD70 CHY	E1	27 Oct 16:22	Yutong TCe12		E1	Flickr	Edit

 

[BobbyBKinross]

As per bustimes.org, they have 18. They are all Yutong TCe12s.

Fleet list – Ember – bustimes.org

bustimes.org

They also have -

SG23 ORW, SG23 ORN, SG23 ORU, SG23 ORT, SG23 ORP, SG23 ORV, SG23 ORO, SG23 ORX although all the above have yet to enter revenue service.

Photo not mine. Taken by Cameron McNutt.

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

As per bustimes.org, they have 18. They are all Yutong TCe12s.

Fleet list – Ember – bustimes.org

bustimes.org

...which is not a reliable source, as they have more than 18 Yutongs! (25 in fact)

 

[BobbyBKinross]

...which is not a reliable source, as they have more than 18 Yutongs! (25 in fact)

26 isn't it?

 

[MasterSpenny]

They also have -

SG23 ORW, SG23 ORN, SG23 ORU, SG23 ORT, SG23 ORP, SG23 ORV, SG23 ORO, SG23 ORX although all the above have yet to enter revenue service.

Photo not mine. Taken by Cameron McNutt.

Oh yes I forgot there were some more, could be down to them not being in service yet.

 

[Tayway]

The timetable for the new E10 is up on Bustimes (https://bustimes.org/services/e10-between-dundee-and-dundee).

Stops seem to be on Baldovie Road by Sainsburys, Arbroath Road by Gotterstone Avenue, and Greendykes Road by Craigie Avenue. The timetable is about as irregular as you might expect for a glorified depot run, but surprisingly frequent with two or more departures most hours from either end, and sometimes as little as three minutes between them! All of the journeys towards the depot start at Dundee Railway Station (where the E3 currently drops up), but journeys from the depot terminate at the Science Centre on Greenmarket (where the E1 currently starts/finishes).

I reckon this means that the stops for the two main services will be consolidated, so drop-off is always at the Railway Station, and pick-up is always at Greenmarket. There are changes now registered for the E1 and E3 from 11 January to amend route, start/finish point, stopping places and timetable (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6576e6e848d7b7000d57ca36/np_2467_11_December_2023.pdf), and the new E3 registration has Greenmarket instead of the Malmaison as the starting point. There's no timetable yet, but presumably the frequency on the Glasgow and Edinburgh routes will be upped as well, to give all their new coaches something to do and explaining the seemingly hundreds of E10s at all hours of the day!

 

[markymark2000]

The timetable for the new E10 is up on Bustimes (https://bustimes.org/services/e10-between-dundee-and-dundee).

Stops seem to be on Baldovie Road by Sainsburys, Arbroath Road by Gotterstone Avenue, and Greendykes Road by Craigie Avenue. The timetable is about as irregular as you might expect for a glorified depot run, but surprisingly frequent with two or more departures most hours from either end, and sometimes as little as three minutes between them! All of the journeys towards the depot start at Dundee Railway Station (where the E3 currently drops up), but journeys from the depot terminate at the Science Centre on Greenmarket (where the E1 currently starts/finishes).

I reckon this means that the stops for the two main services will be consolidated, so drop-off is always at the Railway Station, and pick-up is always at Greenmarket. There are changes now registered for the E1 and E3 from 11 January to amend route, start/finish point, stopping places and timetable (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6576e6e848d7b7000d57ca36/np_2467_11_December_2023.pdf), and the new E3 registration has Greenmarket instead of the Malmaison as the starting point. There's no timetable yet, but presumably the frequency on the Glasgow and Edinburgh routes will be upped as well, to give all their new coaches something to do and explaining the seemingly hundreds of E10s at all hours of the day!

The new E1 and E3 timetables are on bustimes, you have to add the date to the end of the URL though to make it work. There is also a mix of the current data and the new data so you kind of have to work out which is which. It is possible though.

E1 - Between Aberdeen and Edinburgh

Ember

bustimes.org

E3 - Between Dundee and Glasgow

Ember

bustimes.org

 

[Tayway]

The new E1 and E3 timetables are on bustimes, you have to add the date to the end of the URL though to make it work. There is also a mix of the current data and the new data so you kind of have to work out which is which. It is possible though.

E1 - Between Aberdeen and Edinburgh

Ember

bustimes.org

E3 - Between Dundee and Glasgow

Ember

bustimes.org

Fantastic, thank you. Seems to be as I had guessed regarding the start/finish points, and the E1 now stops at Edinburgh Airport during the night (sensible given the lack of trams). Both services are roughly hourly as well.

 

[route101]

I used the E3 from Dundee last night. We stopped at every stop including one on the A9. Service was pretty busy. Only downside is services can sell out.

 

[Tayway]

Confirmation of the timetable change is now on Ember's website:

News

Find out what's new at Ember

www.ember.to

New Route within Dundee and More Services to Edinburgh and Glasgow

We're excited to launch our third route from 11 January – this time it's a short but useful service from Dundee City Centre to the Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc on the east side of Dundee. The route number is E10. We'll be running over 40 services per day in each direction, with three stops along the way (all pre-booked to keep journeys fast). You can see the stops on our live map.

Also on 11 January, we're making a few changes to our routes from Dundee to Edinburgh and Dundee to Glasgow. First we're increasing the frequency to 21 services per day (in each direction) on each route, offering an average of an hourly frequency throughout the day. That's up from 17 services per day on the Edinburgh route and 14 services per day on the Glasgow route. We're also making the timetabled times more accurate, accounting for the latest traffic patterns.

The only new bits of information are that Kinross and the E10 intermediate stops will now be pre-booked only, and that through tickets will eventually be available from the East of Dundee to Edinburgh and Glasgow.

 

[Buzby]

Additionally, the pick up point for the Glasgow service moves to the Greenmarket at the Science Centre - which I find more inconvenient effectively at the end of a cul-de-sac even further away from the Railway Station entrance. Whilst it means both Glasgow and Edinburgh departures depart from the same location I’m not enthusiastic - when it rained you could shelter under the station canopy before running to the stop.!

 

[ClydeCoaster]

The first of Ember's Yutong GTe14s have arrived in the UK. Curiously National Express is first out the trap with a working demonstrator, but there's an image of one of the Ember examples in this Route One article. And rather smart it looks too.

Yutong GTe14 battery-electric coach: Trailblazing product in detail - routeone

Pelican Bus and Coach has debuted the Yutong GTe14 battery-electric tri-axle. routeone takes a close look at the milestone newcomer.

www.route-one.net

 

[VioletEclipse]

The first of Ember's Yutong GTe14s have arrived in the UK. Curiously National Express is first out the trap with a working demonstrator, but there's an image of one of the Ember examples in this Route One article. And rather smart it looks too.

Yutong GTe14 battery-electric coach: Trailblazing product in detail - routeone

Pelican Bus and Coach has debuted the Yutong GTe14 battery-electric tri-axle. routeone takes a close look at the milestone newcomer.

www.route-one.net

To me that coach has a distinctly North American look to it from the front, not sure how appealing I find it compared to the TCe12s they have.

 

[scosutsut]

Didn't get a registration, but curiously saw an Ember coach at Wallyford Park & Ride this afternoon around 1230.

It appeared to be testing a new electric charger in the bus stops beside the P&R (that I didn't know were there)

Bit out the way for them?

 

[MasterSpenny]

A UK wide expansion has been planned to take shape with an £11 million funding round.

Ember plans UK-wide expansion following £11 million funding round

Scottish electric coach operator Ember has announced plans for a UK-wide expansion following a successful funding round of £11 million.

www.route-one.net

Scottish electric coach operator Ember has announced plans for a UK-wide expansion following a successful Series A funding round of £11 million.

The operator also plans to double the 750,000 trips taken by its services so far by next year.

The round was led by Inven Capital, 2150, and AENU, with further contributions from existing investors, including Pale Blue Dot and Skyscanner co-founder Gareth Williams.

As well as expanding Ember‘s electric scheduled coach network, the fresh capital injection will be channelled into developing new renewable energy-powered transport hubs. A substantial portion of the funding will also enhance EmberOS, the company’s proprietary technology platform, designed for optimal charge management and network efficiency.

Ember‘s approach is not just about replacing diesel engines with electric; it’s about reimagining the entire network from the ground up. This includes building its own charging infrastructure, designing coach routes, and collaborating closely with manufacturers on vehicle development.

“We worked really hard with leading climate and tech investors to demonstrate the opportunity hiding in plain sight for the public transport industry,” says Ember co-founder Keith Bradbury. “It’s not a sector that has attracted a lot of growth capital for startups and it’s ripe for a fresh approach.

“This funding allows us to continue with our plans to build a comprehensive network across Scotland as well as further afield. Our focus for this year is to finish the works on several new charging hubs in Scotland and get them energised and in service. That will allow us to launch a few new routes as well as bolster our existing routes with more supply. We’ve had so many requests from passengers to launch new routes and this year we’ll be able to answer some of them.

“Everyone knows that electric vehicles are the solution for road transport but very few seem to have grasped how to really get the most benefit from them. Showing investors that EmberOS is the unified full stack approach to this problem, and putting passengers first, is what attracted more venture capital than we could take.”
Following a recent upgrade, Ember‘s Dundee hub (pictured, left) now boasts 1200kW of charging capacity while using existing wind turbines on site to provide energy direct from turbine to substation. Ember is also currently the only confirmed order for the Yutong GTe14battery-electric coach, which promises a range of up to 280 miles on a single charge.

Comments Daniel Edgerley, Investment Director at Inven Capital: “We have been impressed with both Keith and Pierce as founders and as visionaries of the future of shared transportation. Our commitment to the Company underscores our belief in their customer-centric and innovative approach to electrification and digitalisation across the business. Their decision to fundamentally link their smart infrastructure design, assets and technology platform enables unparalleled optimisation, as well as visibility and data-evidenced insights that gives clean transportation a clear advantage over incumbent solutions. We are excited to be a part of Ember’s mission of revolutionising transportation.”

Adds Rahul Parekh, Partner at 2150: “At 2150, we love founders that are solving some of the world’s biggest problems. Inter-city travel represents the majority of passenger miles and 90% of those journeys happen in the car so decarbonising this sector has huge sustainability impact. With Ember, Keith and Pierce have developed an innovative, full-stack, electrified bus fleet, using technology to provide superior customer service and fantastic operating margins compared to legacy solutions. We are delighted to be supporting them alongside our friends at Inven Capital and AENU in building the next generation of inter-city transport.”

 

[Tayway]

There's a job advert here recruiting for a Hub Manager in Aberdeen, which suggests that services will be starting at some point this year

Ember - Aberdeen Hub Manager

About Ember We're building the future of public transport — convenient, connected, affordable and zero-emission. Our goal is to make it easier to get from A to B with Ember than it is with your own ca

ember.recruitee.com

We'll be opening an Ember Hub in Aberdeen midway through 2024, and we're looking for the right person to lead and inspire this team.

It definitely looks like they're expanding significantly after a couple of years of relative stability – there's several more jobs posted on that site looking for operations managers and software engineers as well as drivers (all with respectable salaries to boot, so it's clear they've got some money flowing in).

They're definitely talking the talk about becoming a major national or even international player:

We’ve successfully worked with Triodos Bank to fund our first 40 vehicles but this set up will need to evolve as we go to 400 and then 4,000 vehicles in multiple geographies.