Government to invest in low-emission buses

Birmingham City Council and Transport for London, has jointly won £2.8 million for 42 state-of-the-art hydrogen fuel cell buses

The government has promised £30 million to increase the number of low-emission buses on England’s roads.

Bus operators and local authorities across the country have been awarded funding to buy low emission buses, and to install charge points and other infrastructure.

The 13 successful bidders for the low emission bus fund will be able to add 326 buses — including electric, hybrid, hydrogen and biomethane vehicles to their fleets, and complete £7 million worth of infrastructure.

Successful bidders include:

• West Midlands Travel, which has been awarded more than £3 million to fund 10 hybrid and 19 fully electric buses, and install electric charging facilities;
• Birmingham city council and Transport for London, which has jointly won £2.8 million for 42 state-of-the-art hydrogen fuel cell buses;
• Merseytravel, which has received £4.9million for a total of 72 biomethane, hybrid or electric buses and associated infrastructure;
• Nottingham City Transport which has received £4.4 million for 53 biomethane buses and infrastructure.

Message

Transport minister Andrew Jones said: “My message is clear — greener buses are good for passengers and good for British business.

“Low emission buses have already proved to be a real success across the country. They are cost efficient, good for the environment, and there are wider benefits.

“We have provided more than £2 billion of funding to greener transport schemes since 2011, and by supporting this technology the government is ensuring the UK is driving innovation and investment up and down the country.”

The low emission bus scheme builds on the Green Bus Fund, which saw more than £89 million of government funding, which put 1,200 green buses on the road.

Emissions

According to the government low emission buses produce 15% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than the average modern bus, but they typically cost more.

The scheme is a part of a package of £600 million of measures from the Office for Low Emission Vehicles by 2020.

Other measures include £400 million for guaranteed plug-in car grants, investment in ultra low-emission taxis, and research and development funding for innovative technology such as lighter car vehicles and better car batteries.