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TfL announce two further electric bus routes for London

Posted: 15 July 2015 | Katie Sadler, Digital Content Producer, Intelligent Transport

According to Transport for London (TfL), 51 new buses will begin operation on two London electric bus routes in autumn 2016. The contract to operate electric routes 507 and 521 was awarded by TfL to Go Ahead following a competitive tender process. The 51 new electric buses will begin service on the capital’s second and […]

TfL announce two further electric bus routes for London

According to Transport for London (TfL), 51 new buses will begin operation on two London electric bus routes in autumn 2016.

TfL announce two further electric bus routes for London

The contract to operate electric routes 507 and 521 was awarded by TfL to Go Ahead following a competitive tender process. The 51 new electric buses will begin service on the capital’s second and third pure electric bus routes, lowering carbon emissions and helping to improve London’s air quality. Go Ahead will announce the chosen manufacture to supply the buses in due course.

By 2020 all 300 single deck buses operating in central London will be zero emission by either electric or hydrogen and all 3,000 double deck buses will be hybrid.  The first all-electric bus route will begin operation later this year on route 312 in south London.

The new electric buses on routes 507 and 521 will deliver a reduction of 408 tonnes of CO2 and 10 tonnes of NOx per year, when compared to single deck diesel buses.  They are emission-free at tailpipe, and will improve passenger experience with lower noise and vibrations.

The Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy, Matthew Pencharz, said: “The expansion of London’s electric bus fleet demonstrates our commitment to reducing emissions from public transport in London.  The Ultra-Low Emission Zone that will be introduced in 2020 is the most ambitious measure of its kind taken to tackle air pollution anywhere in the world, and it will transform our bus fleet into a cleaner, greener and more pleasant way of travelling for Londoners.”

TfL announce two further electric bus routes for London

Irizar electric bus

TfL reveals two new electric buses, manufactured by Spanish company Irizar, began passenger service in early July 2015 on chosen routes 507 and 521, linking Waterloo station to Victoria and London Bridge stations. The new buses will join two existing electric buses, manufactured by Chinese company BYD, on the Go Ahead-operated commuter routes in central London. In total 9 single-deck electric vehicles are currently in service in the capital rising to 17 in September 2015. Furthermore, a pure electric double deck bus trial, announced by the May of London in June, is due to begin in October this year.

Mike Weston, TfL’s Director of Buses, said: “TfL has always been at the forefront of deploying new, green technology in order to reduce harmful emissions from its bus fleet.  I am delighted to announce that two further routes are to convert to fully electric operation – giving our passengers a quieter, smoother journey and also delivering significant environmental benefits.  Electric buses represent another important step in our ongoing efforts to reduce emissions, significantly improving air quality in the Capital.”

In addition, there are eight zero emission hydrogen buses operating on route RV1, between Covent Garden and Tower Gateway.  In the autumn TfL will be trialling inductive charging technology that will enable special extended range diesel electric hybrid buses to wirelessly charge their batteries while they wait at bus stands.  The technology will be trialled on up route 69 in east London, which runs between Canning Town and Walthamstow bus stations. 

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