Big Lemon Bus Company was supported by donations from festival audiences and suppliers in 2017 and in 2019. Energy Revolution was lucky enough to have the chance to invest a small percentage of last year’s donations in this pioneering company that is transforming public transport in their local area and taking the steps needed to create the low carbon infrastructure needed in society.
The Big Lemon Bus Company are true sustainable transport heroes; they provide affordable and environmentally sustainable bus services in and around Brighton. Originally running all the buses on recycled waste cooking oil from local restaurants, The Big Lemon launched the UK’s first solar-powered electric bus in 2017 and they are now converting the entire bus fleet to electric. The electricity needed to power the buses is provided by solar panels on the roof of the bus depot. Donations went towards the new electric vehicles needed in order to create the UK’s first fully electric bus network.
The Big Lemon bus have core values of community, sustainability and innovation, and we are proud to be helping them in their mission to “enable everyone to get around their community in an affordable, enjoyable and environmentally sustainable way.” They have produced a guide to Community-Led Transport Initiatives, which is offered free of charge to anyone interested in setting up their own initiative, and they also offer training and mentoring support along the way.
Although they are currently concentrating on local bus networks Big Lemon Buses has been delivering festival-goers sustainably to their favourite events for over 10 years, including Brighton to Glastonbury, Bestival, Latitude, Reading, Boomtown, End of the Road and Shambala!
August 2020 Update: Thanks to recent investments, including donations from ecolibrium’s members, they now have nine zero-emissions electric buses, and plans to move to a fully electric bus fleet this year.
Find out more about the Big Lemon Bus Company.