Saturday 12 November 2016

Cleaner buses cut yearly emissions by 55k tonnes

New cleaner buses are reducing emissions by 55,000 tonnes a year.

The 3,760 certified Low Carbon Emission Buses (LCEBs) in operation are delivering £8 million in health and environmental benefits, according to a new report from the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP).

LCEBs accounted for around 40% of new buses sold last year. The report suggests if all buses were green by 2020, emissions could be reduced by 432,000 tonnes, equivalent of taking 92,000 cars off the road for a year.

The wide range of technologies on offer, including hybrid, electric, hydrogen and biomethane systems, allow operators to choose the best option for their individual network.

For example, FirstGroup uses 12 electric buses in York because the quicker acceleration, lower noise and smoother ride is popular among their passengers and drivers.

The 10 hydrogen buses operated by First Group and Stagecoach in Aberdeen have resulted in savings of around 145,000 litres of diesel annually.

Andy Eastlake, Managing Director of the LowCVP: "The UK’s bus sector has made great progress in introducing low emission, efficient technologies over the last decade. This support and commitment needs to continue if the sector is to make a necessary contribution to cutting CO2 emissions as well as to the increasingly urgent task of reducing pollution in our most badly affected towns and cities."