Ember (coach operator)

Ember was founded in 2019 by Pierce Glennie and Keith Bradbury, who previously worked for iwoca.[3] Glennie was inspired by a bus journey he took from Namibia to South Africa. The name Ember was chosen because it describes "the end of fire".[4]

Ember's first route, between Dundee and Edinburgh, was planned to start operating in March 2020, but this was set back by the COVID-19 pandemic delaying the delivery of its first coach.[2] Ember received a £490,000 Coronavirus Business Interruption loan via Triodos Bank, which allowed it to launch in October 2020 with two coaches.[5][6] The coaches recharge at a Dundee City Council charging point at Greenmarket.[7]

In February 2022, Ember was awarded £5,562,126 from the Scottish Zero Emission Bus challenge fund for 26 battery electric vehicles and associated charging infrastructure.[8] Ember aims to develop a national network running between all the main cities in Scotland.[9] It launched a route between Dundee and Glasgow in August 2022.[10]

Tickets can be bought in advance on Ember's website up to 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time, but are also sold onboard at some stops. Most intermediate stops need to be booked 10 minutes before schedule to ensure that the bus will stop. Passengers with a Scottish National Entitlement Card travel for free. Through tickets are available to Edinburgh Airport, which includes a short tram journey from Ingliston.[12][13]

Ember's first two Yutong TCe12 battery electric coaches were delivered in 2020. A further two were added in 2021, and four more in 2022, funded by the Scottish Utra-Low Emission Bus Scheme.[9] Ember plans to take delivery of fourteen Yutong GTe14 tri-axle electric coaches in January 2024, the first operator to order the coach model.[14] Ember was also awarded funding in March 2021 for four single-deck Arrival buses,[15] the development of which was ultimately postponed in 2022.