Friday 10 December 2010

First Hydrogen bus to hit London’s streets

The first in a new fleet of Hydrogen fuelled buses was unveiled today in east London. They are run on fuel cells and will only produce water as a by product of the combustion process which mean's they'll be the cleanest buses in the country.

Kit Malthouse, Deputy Mayor for policing and Chair of London Hydrogen Partnership was on hand to unveil the UK's only hydrogen fuelled buses alongside the UK's largest permanent hydrogen refuelling station based at Temple Mills in Leyton. The first two buses launched today form part of a planned eight-strong fleet, powered by specially designed zero-emission hydrogen hybrid fuel cells.

The buses are due to enter service on route RV1, which runs from Covent Garden in central London to Tower Gateway at the edge of the City, from Saturday December 18th and are part of Mayor Boris Johnson's plans to improve air quality in the Capital. Passengers using the brand new buses will also experience a smoother, quieter journey.

The Mayor said: "These buses are a marvel of hydrogen technology, emitting only water rather than belching out harmful pollutants. They will run through the most polluted part of the city, through two air pollution hotspots, helping to improve London's air quality.

"This is just another way that our city is harnessing pioneering low emission public transport to improve quality of life, whether the New Bus for London, electric vehicles or my public bike hire scheme."