Frequently Asked Questions

Ember was started by Keith and Pierce in 2019 as the world's first all-electric intercity bus operator. By using electric vehicles, we can reduce our impact on the planet whilst also offering a better customer experience. We're based in Edinburgh and have local offices in Aberdeen and Dundee.

The transition to electric vehicles is essential to combating global warming. Our buses can go up to 350 miles on a single charge and we charge them multiple times per day. This allows them to travel almost 200,000 miles per year. By using the buses this intensively, we keep lifetime emissions (including manufacturing the vehicle) to a tiny fraction of a diesel equivalent.

Our buses use LFP batteries which are cobalt free. We're looking to reuse the batteries once they have lost capacity, for instance using them as grid storage to help balance out demand for renewable energy.

We use brand new, all-electric buses. They're the first electric buses in the UK to be used on an intercity service. Running on electricity means they're better for the environment and also much quieter, with no annoying engine rumble or rattles. Inside we've kitted them out with comfortable seats, extra leg-room and individual air conditioning.

Yes, we offer free Wi-Fi and there's good signal along the route. Our Wi-Fi is 5G which means it's super fast where there's coverage (currently in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and parts of Dundee).

Yes, we have USB points at every seat. We'll also try to carry a few common charging cables which you can borrow if you don't have yours. Just ask the driver when you get on board. Our newer vehicles also have three pin plugs in certain rows, and we are looking to introduce more of these in the future.

You can bring either two medium bags or one large suitcase without a problem. You can also bring an additional small bag that will fit under your seat or in the overhead rack. If you are planning to bring more than this, it's best to email ride@ember.to to check that there will be room. Otherwise, we can't guarantee there will be space on busy services (but we will always do our best to carry it).

Large instruments, such as a cello, can travel on a seat provided a child fare ticket is booked for them. They can sit on the seat or on the floor in front of the seat, upright or at an angle. The instrument and case combined must be less than 95kg and fit within the seat width of 45cm. You'll need to secure the instrument with the seatbelt at the window seat and sit next to it. Ultimately, safety is our priority so if the driver isn't satisfied your instrument can be safely secured we will have to place it in the hold.

Yes, we love cycling. You can reserve a bike space whilst booking your ticket. We'll either carry your bike on board in the wheelchair space if there are no wheelchair users on board, or underneath in the hold. Note that we can't guarantee your bike will be carried upright and it is carried at your own risk (but we've carried thousands of bikes without incident).

Note that wheelchair users always take priority over bikes in the wheelchair space. This may mean moving your bike if a wheelchair user turns up at an intermediate stop. There should be plenty of space underneath for two bikes (our maximum capacity) but if there are any issues with space, the wheelchair user will have priority and we'll work to find you an alternative solution.

We'd appreciate if your bike is clean but we have some bike bags onboard which you can use if it's a bit mucky. Folding bikes don't need to be booked, just turn up and get on. If you have a particularly large bike (e.g. a tandem), it's best to get in touch with us before booking to make sure it will fit. There are some very large e-bikes on the market that may not fit into our wheelchair space without partially blocking the aisle. In these cases, we may sometimes need to decline carriage of the bike, but we'll seek to fit it into the hold if we can.

Yes, dogs (and other small animals) are welcome on board so long as they're well behaved and don't disturb other passengers. Dogs should either sit on your lap or on the floor in front of your seat. All guide, hearing and assistance dogs are welcome but should be kept under control. Dogs must not sit in the aisle. If your dog can't fit on your lap or in front of your seat, you can book an additional child ticket for them and they can travel on the floor in front of the adjacent seat.

Yes, we have a dedicated wheelchair space accessed via a lift at the centre doors. You can reserve a space whilst booking your ticket and we don't need any additional advance notice. If you haven't booked online then we'll happily let you buy a ticket on board, subject to the wheelchair space being available for your whole journey - the driver will be able to confirm this.

If you would prefer to sit in a bus seat then you don't need to book a wheelchair space in advance and your wheelchair can go in the hold.

If you have lost or forgotten anything on the bus, send us an email at ride@ember.to and we'll do our best to find it. Make sure you tell us which service and time you were travelling on, as well as where you were sitting on the bus.

Yes. People with a Scottish bus pass can travel free with Ember. Bus passes are available for people aged 5 - 21 or over 60, or those with disabilities. You can book online for free as a concession, then tap your bus pass when you get on board. If your card has the companion symbol, you may take a companion free of charge. Companions should be booked as an additional concession.

If you are booking a through ticket to Edinburgh Airport as a concession, you'll need to pay a small fee to cover the tram component of the journey. This is because Edinburgh Trams only accept concession passes issued by Edinburgh City Council. If your card is issued by Edinburgh City Council, you can choose to book to Ingliston Park & Ride instead and use your card for the tram journey.

You can buy a ticket onboard except at pre-booked only stops, but it's cheaper to book online. This applies no matter whether you book a month ahead or just a few seconds before. We don't accept cash onboard so you'll need a card (or a phone with contactless payment).

You need to book online at least 10 minutes before for pre-booked stops, otherwise the bus will not call there. This covers most of our intermediate stops. If you're unable to book online you can call us on +44 (0)131 510 4007 and we'll ask the driver to stop there so you can buy on board. Make sure to phone within office hours (9am - 6pm, seven days a week).

No, you can just show your ticket on your phone. Don't worry if your phone runs out of battery – just give the driver the name on the booking and they'll look it up. We also have USB points at every seat so you can charge up again.

Absolutely. Children under five can travel for free. In addition, National Entitlement Cards, which entitle you to free travel, are available to anyone in Scotland aged 5 - 21 (apply for a card here). If you are 5 - 18 but don't have a bus pass, you can also get a half price child ticket.

We leave it to parents to decide when their child is mature enough to travel on their own. This will vary from child-to-child and journey-to-journey. For instance, it wouldn't be appropriate for a young child to travel on a late-night service by themselves but it might be ok for them to travel on a daytime service to a familiar location. Our drivers are not able to provide a chaperone service but will of course try to look out for the child and alert the relevant authorities if they have safety concerns.

Yes. You can cancel any ticket you buy online for a full refund, either to credit or to your original payment card. You can also change your ticket in just a couple of clicks whether it's to change the number of passengers, change the stops or travel at a different time. We'll just charge you the difference, or refund the difference if your new ticket is cheaper.

All our routes and stops are shown on our live map (you can also track your bus here). Most of our stops are demand responsive which means they must be booked at least 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time. The bus will only call in if someone has a booking.

Demand responsive stops keep journeys fast whilst ensuring we're able to serve even small villages along the way. You'll see which stops require a booking when searching for a ticket.

You can buy a through ticket to the airport. During daytime hours, this includes the two minute tram ride from our nearest stop at Ingliston Park & Ride to the airport. You just need to show your Ember ticket to the airport to the tram conductor.

From January 2024, overnight services outside of tram operating hours (around 6:00 am - midnight) call directly at the airport terminal itself. You'll see on your ticket whether your journey involves a tram connection or is direct.

If you decide to get on or off at a different stop compared to your booking, it's best to use the change ticket function to update your stop. This ensures the driver knows to expect you and it can save you money. It's particularly important to do this at any of the pre-booked stops shown on our live map – if you don't have a booking from that location then the bus will not pull in and stop.