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Transport for London has stated that it intends to have introduced around 300 hybrids into service by 2012, and that all new buses delivered after that date will be hybrid vehicles. It has been confirmed that 269 such vehicles will be in service by March 2012.<ref name=TfL />
Transport for London has stated that it intends to have introduced around 300 hybrids into service by 2012, and that all new buses delivered after that date will be hybrid vehicles. It has been confirmed that 269 such vehicles will be in service by March 2012.<ref name=TfL />


13 hybrid buses are currently on order for use by [[Abellio London]] on [[London Buses route 188|route 188]] from late 2011.<ref name=Hybrid>{{cite web|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/19654.aspx|title=Ninety cleaner hybrid buses to hit London's streets|publisher=Transport for London|date=28 March 2011}}</ref> 26 are on order for use by [[Stagecoach London]] on route 15 from December 2011, and a further 24 will be introduced by [[Abellio London]] on route 3 from February 2012.<ref>[http://www.londonbusroutes.net/changes.htm#1]</ref><ref>[http://www.londonbusroutes.net/changes.htm#6]</ref> Six have been ordered for use by [[Abellio London]] on route 211 from June 2012; 15 are currently on order for use by [[Go-Ahead London]] on route 19 from March 2012,<ref>http://www.londonbusroutes.net/changes.htm#9]</ref> and a further 22 will be used by [[First Centrewest]] on route 23 from April 2012. <ref>http://www.londonbusroutes.net/changes.htm#14</ref>
24 are currently on order for use by [[Abellio London]] on route 3 from February 2012.<ref>[http://www.londonbusroutes.net/changes.htm#2]</ref> Six have been ordered for use by [[Abellio London]] on route 211 from June 2012; 15 are currently on order for use by [[Go-Ahead London]] on route 19 from March 2012,<ref>http://www.londonbusroutes.net/changes.htm#9]</ref> and a further 22 will be used by [[First Centrewest]] on route 23 from April 2012. <ref>http://www.londonbusroutes.net/changes.htm#14</ref>


The first eight hybrid [[New Bus for London]] double-deckers are to enter service on Arriva London [[London Buses route 38|route 38]] in February 2012.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Booth |first=Gavin |title=The real deal: First Borismaster ready for London |journal=Buses |date=December 2011 |issue=681 |pages=6–7}}</ref>
The first eight hybrid [[New Bus for London]] double-deckers are to enter service on Arriva London [[London Buses route 38|route 38]] in February 2012.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Booth |first=Gavin |title=The real deal: First Borismaster ready for London |journal=Buses |date=December 2011 |issue=681 |pages=6–7}}</ref>

Revision as of 21:40, 5 February 2012

A Wright Gemini 2 hybrid double-decker bus in the distinctive red and green livery worn by most hybrid vehicles in London.

Hybrid buses are operated on a small number of bus services in London. The first were introduced in March 2006, and 56 are now used. Transport for London has stated that it intends to make all new buses delivered for use in London hybrids from 2012.

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.[1] Later in 2006 the vehicles were temporarily withdrawn from service when their diesel engines overheated.[2]

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.[2]

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; a batch of five are expected to be introduced to route RV1. An ethanol fuelled double-decker bus was operated by Transdev London in 2008 and 2009.[3]

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.[4] 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.[5]

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.[6] It entered service in February 2007 on route 141.[1]

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.[7] However, the last of these did not enter service until July, when six Volvo B5L double-deckers joined the existing vehicles on route 141.[8]

Current operations

A hybrid Optare Tempo on route E8

190 hybrid buses are currently in use in London, operating on routes 12, 15, 16, 24, 73, 76, 94, 139, 141, 188, 328, 360, 371, 380, 436, E8, H91 and R70.[9]

A variety of models of hybrid vehicle are currently used. These include the Wright Electrocity and Optare Tempo single-deckers and the Volvo B5L, Wright Gemini 2 and Alexander Dennis Enviro400 double-deckers.[3] Route 141 used to be the only route that operated with two types of hybrid.[8]

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.[10]

Future

Transport for London has stated that it intends to have introduced around 300 hybrids into service by 2012, and that all new buses delivered after that date will be hybrid vehicles. It has been confirmed that 269 such vehicles will be in service by March 2012.[9]

24 are currently on order for use by Abellio London on route 3 from February 2012.[11] Six have been ordered for use by Abellio London on route 211 from June 2012; 15 are currently on order for use by Go-Ahead London on route 19 from March 2012,[12] and a further 22 will be used by First Centrewest on route 23 from April 2012. [13]

The first eight hybrid New Bus for London double-deckers are to enter service on Arriva London route 38 in February 2012.[14]


Go-Ahead London have ordered 10 new buses on route 22 from 20 October 2012. [15]

References

  1. ^ a b "Hybrid double-decker bus launched". BBC News. 16 March 2007.
  2. ^ a b Milmo, Dan (26 October 2006). "London plans hybrid bus fleet to cut carbon emissions". The Guardian.
  3. ^ a b Wilson, Tony (24 October 2010). "Hybrids in London". Focus Transport.
  4. ^ "First Electrocity order for Wrightbus". Bus & Coach Magazine. 18 March 2005.
  5. ^ ""Cleaner, greener" buses for route 360". London SE1 community site. 7 February 2006.
  6. ^ Law, Peter (31 October 2006). "First hybrid double decker bus unveiled". This Is Local London.
  7. ^ "London steps up hybrid trials". Bus & Coach Magazine. 3 December 2008.
  8. ^ a b "Volvo hybrids launched in London". Bus & Coach Magazine. 9 July 2009.
  9. ^ a b "Hybrid buses". Transport for London.
  10. ^ "London Buses wins Low Carbon Champions Award for green buses". Transport for London. July 16, 2010.
  11. ^ [1]
  12. ^ http://www.londonbusroutes.net/changes.htm#9]
  13. ^ http://www.londonbusroutes.net/changes.htm#14
  14. ^ Booth, Gavin (December 2011). "The real deal: First Borismaster ready for London". Buses (681): 6–7.
  15. ^ http://www.londonbusroutes.net/changes.htm#12
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