London’s electric bus fleet becomes largest in Europe

London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced two of London’s bus routes are becoming exclusively electric as the capital’s electric fleet becomes the largest in Europe.

In the latest measure by the mayor to tackle the climate emergency and the air quality health crisis, routes 43 and 134 will become the UK's first bus routes to use only electric double-deck buses. London currently has more than 200 electric buses, making it Europe's largest electric bus fleet, and this will grow significantly next year as Transport for London (TfL) has awarded contracts to operators for an additional 78 electric double-deck buses, according to TfL.

The new zero-emission buses on routes 43 and 134 are not only helping to reduce carbon emissions and improve the air for all Londoners but are also improving the customer experience on buses. A journey in an electric bus is smoother and quieter than one with a traditional engine, and customers will have access to free USB charging points.

 The mayor also confirmed that Low Emission Bus Zones at Chiswick High Road and Uxbridge Road have now been completed, which means TfL has delivered all 12 Low Emission Bus Zones earlier than the mayor's previous target of 2020. As a result of the zones, Londoners who were exposed to some of the highest levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution are now benefiting from an average 90 per cent drop in bus-related NOx emissions, according to TfL.

"London's toxic air is a shameful health crisis which is causing premature deaths and stunting the growth of children's lungs,” Khan said. “Today, as part of our work to tackle the harmful emissions we breathe and to help tackle the climate emergency, I am proud to announce the first two routes which will exclusively use electric double deck buses. I am also pleased to announce that we have now delivered all 12 of the Low Emission Bus Zones I promised in my manifesto, much sooner than the planned delivery date of 2020.”

Gareth Powell, TfL's managing director for Surface Transport, said, "London is a leading world city at the heart of global innovation and it is the latest green technology, like electric double decks, that will help tackle the air quality crisis. These new buses mark a major moment on the road to a fully zero-emission fleet. With more electric double decks buses to follow, and all new single deck buses required to be zero-emissions from next year, buses are helping to bring the capital's air inside legal limits.”

Metroline's Chief Executive Officer Sean O'Shea said: "This is an important milestone for Metroline, and London, as we continue to deliver greener and cleaner transport for our customers. Metroline have made a substantial investment and commitment to electric buses, making the UK's largest single order. With the launch of London's first exclusively electric double deck routes, which will carry around 18.5 million people across the capital a year, we will continue making real progress in improving air quality in the capital."

 Khan has plans to clean up the capital's air, which leads to thousands of deaths each year and leads to health problems including dementia and stunting the growth of children's lungs, according to TfL. The mayor has committed to making all buses within the M25 zero emission by 2037 at the very latest and has asked TfL to look at the feasibility of bringing this date forward. To deliver substantial benefits in the short term, TfL's £85m (US$93.988) bus retrofit program will help ensure that all of the capital's 9000 buses meet or exceed the Euro VI emission standard by October 2020. This means the whole of London will become a Low Emission Bus Zone.