A fleet of hybrid buses will be taking to the streets of London as part of plans to slash carbon dioxide emissions in the capital.
Ken Livingstone, mayor of London, unveiled the first hybrid double-decker bus in the world this week, as part of his ongoing commitment to tackle climate change. The mayor was joined at the launch by Tony Juniper, director of Friends of the Earth.
Both voiced support for a climate change Bill in the Queen’s Speech on 15 November, which would commit the Government to cutting UK carbon dioxide emissions by 3% a year.
The bus is powered by a small diesel engine and electric power and produces up to 40% less emissions than a standard bus. It works using a battery pack providing power to the wheels through an electric motor. The battery pack is kept at optimum power by a diesel Euro IV engine, keeping it charged.
When the vehicle brakes, energy normally wasted is recycled and used to charge the battery, giving the bus the same range as diesel powered vehicles. The double-decker, built by Wrightbus, will go on display at the Euro Bus Expo 2006 at Birmingham NEC from 7 to 9 November.
Later this month, it will go into service on route 141 from Wood Green to London Bridge, which is operated by Arriva from Wood Green Garage. Livingstone said: ‘In London, we are already developing a climate change action plan which will set targets and sector-by-sector measures aimed at cutting the capital’s emissions every year.
‘With the announcement of our plans for hybrid buses in London, we are sending a clear message to London and the transport industry we are serious about this. ‘Transport for London will work with bus manufacturers and operators to take this important step, and they need to start working with us now.’
TfL currently has six single-deck hybrid buses operating on route 360 from Elephant and Castle to Kensington.