Low emission buses in London

Wright Gemini 2 hybrid double-decker bus in the distinctive red and green livery worn by most hybrid vehicles in London
New Routemaster which utilises hybrid technology

There are 1,500 hybrid buses, 22 electric buses, and 8 hydrogen buses currently operating in London, out of a total bus fleet of 8,600.[1][2] The first hybrid bus was introduced on route 360 in March 2006 and over 300 were in passenger service by July 2012. The world's first double-decker hybrid bus was introduced in London from January 2007. Transport for London initially stated that it intended to make all new buses delivered for use in London hybrids from 2012. This requirement was later dropped.

Background

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.[3]

Transport is responsible for around 20% of London's CO2 emissions; buses make up 5% of the transport total. The city has 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.[4]

Other low-emission buses have also been used in London. Three hydrogen fuel cell powered buses were used on route 25 from 2004, but have since been withdrawn; eight are now operating on route RV1. An ethanol fuelled double-decker bus was operated by Transdev London in 2008 and 2009.[5]

Operational history

Route 141 was the first in the world to be operated with a hybrid double-decker. Although the original vehicle has left the route, it is still served by hybrids such as this Wright Gemini 2 integral.

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.[6] The buses were unveiled by the then Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, on February 7, 2006, with the intention of starting operation on the following day.[7] Later in 2006 the vehicles were temporarily withdrawn from service when their diesel engines overheated.[4]

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.[8] It entered service in February 2007 on route 141.[3]

No more hybrids were delivered until December 2008, when twenty-five vehicles entered service. These were introduced onto five routes run by four different operators. A further eighteen were due to follow in January 2009.[9] However, the last of these did not enter service until July, when six Volvo B5L double-deckers joined the existing vehicles on route 141.[10]

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.[11][12] It was originally intended that every bus introduced into service after 2012 would be a hybrid,[4] but this requirement was later dropped.[13]

New Routemaster Programme

The New Routemaster double-decker was specified and constructed to a hybrid design. The first eight vehicles entered service on Arriva London route 38 in February 2012.[14] As of 2015, 500 New Routemaster buses are in use, planned to rise to 800 during 2016. However, the buses have suffered from problems with their battery systems - currently 80 are operating solely as diesel vehicles, and in total 200 buses will have power units replaced under warranty.[15]

Flywheel KERS Retrofit Programme

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 fitted with this technology from 2014-2016, anticipated to improve fuel efficiency by approximately 20%.[16] The team who developed the technology were awarded the Dewar Trophy of the Royal Automobile Club in 2015.[17]

Summary of Current operations and Future Plans

More than 1,500 hybrid buses are currently in use in London, anticipated to rise to 1,700 during 2016, out of a total bus fleet of 8,600.[1] There are also currently 8 hydrogen fuel cell buses, and 9 pure electric buses, set to rise to 22 by October 2015[2] and to 73 by Autumn 2016.[18] This includes a trial of the world's first electric double decker bus, starting in October 2015.[19]

A variety of models of hybrid vehicle are currently used. These include the Alexander Dennis Enviro200H, Wright Electrocity, Optare Tempo and BYD electric bus single-deckers and the Volvo B5LH, Wright Gemini 2, Alexander Dennis Enviro400H and New Routemaster double-deckers.

By 2020, Transport for London has committed to the use of electric or hydrogen buses for all 300 single decker buses in Central London, and the use of hybrid buses for all 3000 double decker buses in the same area.[2] This is as part of the Ultra Low Emissions Zone scheme.

Response

The introduction of hybrid vehicles in London has received praise from the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, which awarded Transport for London the first ever Low Carbon Champion Award for Buses in July 2010.[20]

References

  1. 1 2 "Hybrid buses". Transport for London.
  2. 1 2 3 "More than 50 all-electric buses to enter service in London". Transport for London.
  3. 1 2 "Hybrid double-decker bus launched". BBC News. 16 March 2007.
  4. 1 2 3 Milmo, Dan (26 October 2006). "London plans hybrid bus fleet to cut carbon emissions". The Guardian.
  5. ↑ Wilson, Tony (24 October 2010). "Hybrids in London". Focus Transport.
  6. ↑ "First Electrocity order for Wrightbus". Bus & Coach Magazine. 18 March 2005.
  7. ↑ ""Cleaner, greener" buses for route 360". London SE1 community site. 7 February 2006.
  8. ↑ Law, Peter (31 October 2006). "First hybrid double decker bus unveiled". This Is Local London.
  9. ↑ "London steps up hybrid trials". Bus & Coach Magazine. 3 December 2008.
  10. ↑ "Volvo hybrids launched in London". Bus & Coach Magazine. 9 July 2009.
  11. ↑ "London takes 300th hybrid bus". Bus & Coach Magazine. 6 July 2012.
  12. ↑ "300th hybrid bus introduced to London's fleet, helping to improve air quality". Transport for London. 5 July 2012.
  13. ↑ "Hybrid buses". Transport for London.
  14. ↑ Booth, Gavin (December 2011). "The real deal: First Borismaster ready for London". Buses (681): 6–7.
  15. ↑ "New Routemaster's battery problems mean many run on just diesel". BBC.
  16. ↑ "UK: GKN in deal to supply KERS flywheel tech on London buses". Just Auto.
  17. ↑ "GKN hybrid project lands major accolade". Shropshire Star.
  18. ↑ "Number of electric buses in London set to treble next year as two more routes announced". Evening Standard. July 15, 2015.
  19. ↑ "London Gets World’s First Double-Decker Electric Buses, Clean Bus Summit Starts With A Bang". CleanTechnica. July 6, 2015.
  20. ↑ "London Buses wins Low Carbon Champions Award for green buses". Transport for London. July 16, 2010.
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