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Low emission buses in London

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Double-decker battery electric bus

There are 3,826 hybrid buses, 1,397 battery electric buses, and 20 hydrogen fuel cell buses operating in London, as of March 2024, out of a total bus fleet of 8,776 – this is around 60% of the bus fleet.[1]

As of March 2024, the battery electric fleet of the city is the second largest in Europe behind of Moscow, which has over 2,100 electric buses operating.[2] Transport for London (TfL) note that the bus fleet has the lowest carbon dioxide emissions per passenger kilometre of other major cities such as New York, Paris and Vancouver.[3]

In 2021, it was announced that all buses in the fleet meet or exceed Euro VI emission standards, following the phasing out of older buses, the retrofitting of diesel vehicles and the introduction of new hybrid & electric buses.[4] From 2021, all new buses will be zero emission, and the entire bus fleet will be zero emission by 2034,[5][6] although TfL have stated that with additional funding, this could be achieved by 2030.[4][7]

Background

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In 2006, transport was responsible for around 20% of London's CO2 emissions; with buses making up 5% of the transport total. The city set a target of a 20% reduction in emissions by the year 2020. Converting London's entire bus fleet to hybrid vehicles would reduce CO2 emissions by around 200,000 tonnes per year.[8] Diesel buses also produce particulate pollution, which is harmful to health. By using less diesel fuel, operators can also reduce the running cost of their bus fleet.

Hybrid electric buses use a combination of an electric battery pack and a diesel engine to provide power, and produce around 40% less carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions than traditional diesel engined buses. Energy generated during braking is used to charge the batteries of hybrid vehicles.[9][10] Battery electric buses use on-board batteries to power an electric motor that drives the bus. Unlike a hybrid electric bus, there are no local emissions. As with hybrid buses, regenerative braking is used to charge the batteries.[11] Hydrogen fuel cell buses use the reaction of hydrogen with oxygen to generate electricity that drives the bus with an electric motor. The only emission from the bus is water.[12]

Operational history

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In the 1990s, early efforts to improve emissions involved replacing older diesel buses such as the AEC Routemaster, use of ultra-low-sulfur diesel, and fitting particulate filters to exhausts.[13][14][15] In 2000, three DAF SB220 East Lancs Myllennium buses powered by liquefied petroleum gas were used to transport visitors to the Millennium Dome.[16][17][18] By December 2005, all buses met Euro II emission standards,[19] with the first Euro IV bus entering service in April 2006.[20]

Early trials and tests

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Hydrogen fuel cell powered Mercedes-Benz Citaro at Stratford in 2004

In January 2004, three hydrogen fuel cell powered buses were introduced on route 25 on a two-year trial.[21][22] These were transferred to route RV1 in September 2004,[23] and were tested in commercial service on the route at peak times only. They were withdrawn in January 2007.[24]

The first hybrid buses to enter service in London were six Wright Electrocity single-deckers. These were ordered in March 2005 to operate on route 360.[25] The single decker buses were unveiled by Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone on 7 February 2006, with the intention of starting operation on the following day.[26] Later in 2006 the vehicles were temporarily withdrawn from service when their diesel engines overheated.[8]

A double-deck hybrid vehicle intended for use in London was unveiled in October 2006. The bus, which cost £285,000 and was constructed by Wrightbus, was the first hybrid double-decker in the world, and was painted in red and green to symbolise the environmental benefits.[10] It entered service in February 2007 on route 141.[9]

An ethanol fuelled double-decker bus was operated by Transdev London in 2008 and 2009.[27] In 2010, eight hydrogen buses were introduced on route RV1, with a substantially larger range than the fuel cell buses used in the mid-2000s.[24][28] At the time, this was the largest hydrogen bus fleet in Europe.[29]

Route 141 was the first in the world to be operated with a hybrid double-decker.

Introduction of hybrids

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Twenty-five vehicles entered service in December 2008, introduced onto five routes run by four different operators. A further eighteen entered service in July 2009, when six Volvo B5L double-deckers joined the existing vehicles on route 141.[30][31]

Transport for London stated that it intended to have introduced around 300 hybrids into service by 2012. This was achieved in July 2012, when an Alexander Dennis Enviro400 double-decker of Abellio London became the 300th hybrid in use when it entered service on route 211.[32][33] It was originally intended that every bus introduced into service after 2012 would be a hybrid,[8] but this requirement was later dropped.[34]

A trial of inductive charging technology for three modified Alexander Dennis Enviro400H double-deckers was announced in August 2014. The vehicles, on route 69, receive current to charge the traction batteries while at stands at either end of the route. Although it is intended that the units are to operate in "pure electric" mode, a standard diesel engine is also carried.[35]

Retrofitting diesel buses

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In the 2010s, bus operators retrofitted older buses to improve fuel economy, reduce air pollution and meet emission standards.[4][36] A three-year £86m project to improve 5,000 buses to Euro VI emission standards was completed in 2021.[4][37]

A Kinetic energy recovery system using a carbon fibre flywheel, originally developed for the Williams Formula One racing team, has been modified for retrofitting to existing double-decker buses. 500 buses from the Go-Ahead Group will be fitted with this technology from 2014 to 2016, anticipated to improve fuel efficiency by approximately 20%.[38] The team who developed the technology were awarded the Dewar Trophy of the Royal Automobile Club in 2015.[39]

New Routemaster in 2014

New Routemaster Programme

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The New Routemaster double-decker was specified and constructed to a hybrid design. The bus was designed to be 40% more fuel-efficient than conventional diesel buses, and 15% more than London hybrid buses already in operation, reducing nitrogen oxide emissions by 40% and particulate matter by 33% compared with diesel buses.[40] The first eight vehicles entered service with Arriva London on route 38 in February 2012.[41] By 2018, a total of 1,000 New Routemasters were in service.[42] However, the buses have suffered from problems with their battery systems with some operating solely as diesel vehicles, and in total 200 buses will have power units replaced under warranty.[43]

In 2022, Equipmake converted a New Routemaster bus to use batteries, replacing the diesel engine and hybrid system with a 400kWh battery and electric motors.[44] Equipmake suggested that the conversion could be cheaper than purchasing new battery electric buses.[44]

Introduction of battery electric buses

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Battery electric powered Enviro 200 as used on route 521

In December 2013, the first battery electric buses entered service in London as a trial on routes 521 and 507, using BYD Auto buses built in China.[45] BYD estimated that the cost savings could be up to 75%, owing to the cost of electricity compared to diesel fuel. The trial was successful, and further orders for battery electric buses followed.[46]

In 2015, the world's first battery electric double-decker bus entered service on route 98.[47] The first routes in London solely served by battery electric single decker buses were routes 521 and 507 in 2016.[48] The first route in London solely served by electric double-decker buses was route 43 in 2019.[49]

In January 2021, it was announced that all buses in the fleet meet or exceed Euro VI emission standards, following the phasing out of older buses, the retrofitting of diesel vehicles and the introduction of new hybrid & electric buses.[4] In September 2021, TfL announced that all new buses entering service would be zero emission.[5][6]

By March 2022, over 700 electric buses were in service.[42] In October 2022, rapid charging using a pantograph was introduced for battery electric buses on route 132, the first use of this technology in London. This allows batteries to be 'topped up' during the day.[50]

In August 2023, the 1000th zero emission bus entered service (a Wright StreetDeck Electroliner),[51] with TfL announcing later that month that London had the largest fleet of zero emission buses in Europe.[52] In November 2023, tour bus operator Tootbus London announced they would be retrofitting their buses with electric drivetrains from Magtec, making them zero-emission.[53][54] In August 2024, Alexander Dennis announced that their new Enviro400EV double decker bus would have a 14 year or 1 million kilometres (620,000 mi) warranty, allowing them to be used for two consecutive TfL bus contracts without needing a battery replacement.[55]

Introduction of double-decker hydrogen fuel cell buses

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Hydrogen fuel cell powered Wright StreetDeck Hydroliner as used on route 7

While hydrogen fuel cell buses had been running in London since 2004, these had all been single decker buses. In June 2021, the world's first hydrogen fuel cell double-decker bus – the Wright StreetDeck Hydroliner – entered service on route 7.[56][12]

Future plans

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The number of zero emission buses is due to increase to 2,000 by 2025.[57] The entire fleet will be zero emission by 2034,[6] although Transport for London have stated that with additional funding, this could be achieved by 2030.[4]

All future bus routes that will use the Silvertown Tunnel – a new crossing of the River Thames in East London – will be zero emission when the tunnel opens in 2025.[58]

Summary of current operations

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A variety of hybrid vehicles are currently used. These include the Volvo B5LH, Alexander Dennis Enviro400H, Wright Streetdeck, Wright SRM and New Routemaster.

Battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles currently used include the Alexander Dennis Enviro200 EV, Caetano e.City Gold, Wright GB Kite, Optare MetroCity EV and Volvo BZL single-deckers and Wright StreetDeck, Optare MetroDecker EV, Alexander Dennis Enviro400 EV City and Volvo BZL double-deckers.

However, there are no longer any hybrid single-deckers. Former types include the Alexander Dennis Enviro200H, Wright Electrocity and Optare Tempo.[1] All hybrid Wright Gemini 2 buses in London have been withdrawn.

Response

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The introduction of low emission vehicles in London has received praise from the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP), which awarded Transport for London the first ever Low Carbon Champion Award for Buses in July 2010,[59] and a joint award with Wrightbus for the development of the New Routemaster in 2013.[60] On the 10th anniversary of LowCVP in 2013, TfL was awarded an Outstanding Achievement award for their work over the previous ten years – including the congestion charge, low emission zone as well as introduction of hybrid and hydrogen buses.[60]

Research by operator Go-Ahead showed that people would be more likely to travel by bus if they knew the journey would be zero emission.[61]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Bus fleet audit—31 March 2024" (PDF). Transport for London. 31 March 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  2. ^ "В Москве работают уже 2100 электробусов". Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  3. ^ "Investment programme report Quarter 3 2023/24 (17 September to 9 December 2023)" (PDF). Transport for London. 28 February 2024. Our zero-emission bus fleet ... has the lowest carbon dioxide emissions per passenger kilometres compared to other global cities such as New York, Paris and Vancouver
  4. ^ a b c d e f "London's buses now meet ULEZ emissions standards across the entire city". Transport for London. 14 January 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Mayor announces that all new London buses will be zero-emission". Greater London Authority. 17 September 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  6. ^ a b c "All new London buses to be zero emission, Mayor Sadiq Khan announces. Full electrification by 2034". Sustainable Bus. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  7. ^ Hall, Susan; Khan, Sadiq (18 March 2021). "Clean bus fleet". London Assembly. Retrieved 7 August 2021. The number of zero emission vehicles in the fleet is expected to increase to 700 by the end of 2021.
  8. ^ a b c Milmo, Dan (26 October 2006). "London plans hybrid bus fleet to cut carbon emissions". The Guardian.
  9. ^ a b "Hybrid double-decker bus launched". BBC News. 16 March 2007.
  10. ^ a b Law, Peter (31 October 2006). "First hybrid double decker bus unveiled". This Is Local London.
  11. ^ "UK electric buses boosted by innovative £20m battery deal". the Guardian. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  12. ^ a b "England's first double-decker hydrogen buses to launch in London". BBC News. 23 June 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  13. ^ "LT announces plans for environmental improvement" (Press release). London Transport. 9 July 1997. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  14. ^ "Environmental Performance Report 1997" (PDF). London Transport. 1997. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 February 1998. Retrieved 16 June 2022. In 1996 LT Buses began a five-year programme to reduce emissions to still lower levels by encouraging the operating companies to specify new cleaner 'Euro 2' engines on new buses and fit oxidising catalysts and use cleaner fuel in existing vehicles.
  15. ^ "London Transport Annual Report 1998/99" (PDF). London Transport. p. 23. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 October 2014. More than 90% of its services now use ultra-low-sulphur diesel and 20% of buses, including the majority of buses on central London routes, are fitted with mechanisms to reduce emissions. Since 1996 all new buses bought by contracted operators have complied with the "Euro2"emissions standards.
  16. ^ "Millennium Transit buses unveiled". London Buses. 16 December 1999.[dead link‍]
  17. ^ "All aboard the new Myllennium special". Lancashire Telegraph. 25 November 1999. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  18. ^ Jukes, David (30 December 2016). "LONDON'S FIRST BUSWAY". www.keybuses.com. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  19. ^ "Bright first year for London's Fuel Cell buses". Transport for London. 14 January 2005. Retrieved 13 August 2021. by December 2005 all London Buses will meet a minimum of Euro 2 emissions and be fitted with a particulate filter.
  20. ^ "Red, Green And Clean - Londons latest double-deckers are a UK first". Transport for London. 27 April 2006. Archived from the original on 6 June 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  21. ^ "Full steam ahead for new gas bus". BBC News. 14 January 2004. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  22. ^ "London Buses - The Bus of the Future" (PDF). Transport for London. January 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2004.
  23. ^ "RV1 emission-free bus trial "a great success"". London SE1. 15 January 2005. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  24. ^ a b "Hydrogen bus launched on London tourist route". the Guardian. 10 December 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  25. ^ "First Electrocity order for Wrightbus". Bus & Coach Magazine. 18 March 2005. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011.
  26. ^ ""Cleaner, greener" buses for route 360". London SE1 community site. 7 February 2006.
  27. ^ Wilson, Tony (24 October 2010). "Hybrids in London". Focus Transport. Archived from the original on 27 December 2010.
  28. ^ "RV1 bus route to be converted to hydrogen power". London SE1. 4 November 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  29. ^ "Mayor announces Europe's largest fleet of hydrogen buses for London". Transport for London. 13 November 2007. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  30. ^ "Volvo hybrids launched in London". Bus & Coach Magazine. 9 July 2009. Archived from the original on 28 August 2010. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
  31. ^ "London steps up hybrid trials". Bus & Coach Magazine. 3 December 2008. Archived from the original on 5 June 2012.
  32. ^ "London takes 300th hybrid bus". Bus & Coach Magazine. 6 July 2012. Archived from the original on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  33. ^ "300th hybrid bus introduced to London's fleet, helping to improve air quality". Transport for London. 5 July 2012.
  34. ^ "Hybrid buses". Transport for London. Archived from the original on 15 November 2010.
  35. ^ "New hybrid bus charging technology trial announced". Transport for London. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  36. ^ "World's largest bus retrofit programme completed". Transport for London. 21 July 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  37. ^ "Capital's most polluting buses to be upgraded". London City Hall. 28 June 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  38. ^ "UK: GKN in deal to supply KERS flywheel tech on London buses". Just Auto. 29 July 2014. Archived from the original on 6 August 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  39. ^ "GKN hybrid project lands major accolade". Shropshire Star. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  40. ^ "Wrightbus to design and build New Bus for London" (Press release). Transport for London. 23 December 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  41. ^ Booth, Gavin (December 2011). "The real deal: First Borismaster ready for London". Buses (681): 6–7.
  42. ^ a b "Bus fleet audit—31 March 2022" (PDF). Transport for London. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  43. ^ "New Routemaster's battery problems mean many run on just diesel". BBC News. 20 July 2015.
  44. ^ a b Brodie, James (1 November 2022). "London's New Routemaster bus goes all-electric with 'repowered' retrofit". Auto Express. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  45. ^ "London's first pure electric 'emission free' buses hit the streets". Transport for London. 18 December 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  46. ^ "2013 BYD K9E electric bus - EB2 - London Bus Museum". Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  47. ^ "World's First Zero Emission Electric Double Decker | Metroline News". Metroline. Archived from the original on 25 July 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  48. ^ Gillett, Francesca (12 September 2016). "First electric buses in central London 'by end of year' as two routes announced". Evening Standard. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  49. ^ "Route 43 set to be London's first all-electric bus route". Metroline. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  50. ^ Lydall, Ross (26 October 2022). "Fleet of London buses get rapid charging tech". Evening Standard. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  51. ^ Peat, Chris (4 August 2023). "London hits 1,000 zero-emission bus milestone". Bus & Coach Buyer. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  52. ^ "TfL introduces over 80 new zero-emission buses in Sutton (and add over 1 million km per year to outer London bus services)". Sustainable Bus. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023. London's zero-emission bus fleet, which is now the largest in Europe
  53. ^ "Tootbus engages Magtec to repower 15 open top buses in London". Sustainable Bus. 14 November 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  54. ^ Team, routeone (14 November 2023). "Magtec to repower 15 Tootbus B9TL open-tops to battery-electric". routeone. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  55. ^ Baguette, Stefan (1 August 2024). "Alexander Dennis presents next-generation Enviro400EV for London with landmark 14-year battery warranty". Alexander Dennis. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  56. ^ "Mayor launches England's first hydrogen double decker buses". London City Hall. 23 June 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  57. ^ "Transport for London bus fleet now meet ULEZ standards. 300 e-buses expected in 2021". Sustainable Bus. 14 January 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  58. ^ "Improvements and Projects - Silvertown Tunnel". Transport for London. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  59. ^ "London Buses wins Low Carbon Champions Award for green buses". Transport for London. 16 July 2010.
  60. ^ a b "TfL scoops two Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership Awards". Transport for London. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  61. ^ "Go-Ahead: 55% of UK residents more likely to travel by bus in case of zero emission buses available". Sustainable Bus. 15 December 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
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