Green bus technology is to be trialled in Bristol following a £1m grant to help improve air quality.
The money will allow the council to purchase new hybrid buses that will switch automatically from diesel to electric when they enter specific GPS locations within the city. The ‘trigger zones’ will be set on areas with poorer air quality and the council will monitor the impact the move has on the environment.
Mayor of Bristol George Ferguson said: ‘We need to exploit these new technologies to help us reach a future where we can all enjoy cleaner air, and a healthier future where streets are no longer clogged with traffic, where public transport provides an affordable, quality alternative to the car, and it is increasingly attractive to walk and cycle.’
Transport minister, Baroness Kramer, added: ‘This ground-breaking trial will make a real difference in improving people’s lives in Bristol. The DfT’s £1m funding will provide greener buses to help tackle poor air quality across the city. Today’s announcement follows the £58m Green Bus Fund which led to almost 900 new low carbon buses coming into service in England.’