Hybrid buses in London
Encyclopedia
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.
(CO2) emissions than traditional diesel engined buses. Energy generated during braking is used to charge the batteries of hybrid vehicles. Later in 2006 the vehicles were temporarily withdrawn from service when their diesel engines overheated.
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.
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from 2004, but have since been withdrawn; a batch of five are expected to be introduced to route RV1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.
single-deckers. These were ordered in March 2005 to operate on route 360
. 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.
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. It entered service in February 2007 on route 141
.
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. However, the last of these did not enter service until July, when six Volvo B5L
double-deckers joined the existing vehicles on route 141.
,16
, 24
, 73
, 76, 94
, 139
, 141
, 328
, 360
, 371, 380, 436
, 490, E8
and H91
.
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. Route 141 used to be the only route that operated with two types of hybrid.
13 are currently on order for use by Abellio London on route 188
from late 2011.
26 ADL Enviro400 hybrids are currently on order for use by Stagecoach London
on route 15 from December 2011 and a further 24 ADL Enviro400 hybrids are currently on order for use by Abellio London on route 3 from February 2012.
6 ADL Enviro400 Hybrids are currently on order for use by Abellio London on route 211 from June 2012, a further 15 Volvo B5L
Hybrid 10.4m / Wright Eclipse Gemini 2s are currently on order for use by Go-Ahead London
on route 19 from March 2012 and further 22 ADL Enviro400 Hybrids are currently on order for use by First Centrewest on route 23 from April 2012.
Buses in London
The London Bus is one of London's principal icons, the archetypal red rear-entrance double-deck Routemaster being recognised worldwide. Although the Routemaster has now been largely phased out of service, with only two heritage routes still using the vehicles, the majority of buses in London are...
. The first were introduced in March 2006, and 56 are now used. Transport for London
Transport for London
Transport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across 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 DioxideCarbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
(CO2) emissions than traditional diesel engined buses. Energy generated during braking is used to charge the batteries of hybrid vehicles. Later in 2006 the vehicles were temporarily withdrawn from service when their diesel engines overheated.
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.
Other low-emission buses have also been used in London. Three hydrogen fuel cell powered buses were used on route 25
London Buses route 25
London Buses route 25 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Capital.-History:...
from 2004, but have since been withdrawn; a batch of five are expected to be introduced to route RV1
London Buses route RV1
London Buses route RV1 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Prior to its launch, the service was promoted as Riverside Bus, and was intended to open up the south bank of riverside London, connecting visitor attractions such as the Tower of London, the Tate Modern, the...
. An ethanol
Ethanol
Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid. It is a psychoactive drug and one of the oldest recreational drugs. Best known as the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages, it is also used in thermometers, as a...
fuelled double-decker bus was operated by Transdev London
Transdev London
London United is one of many operators of London Buses and is owned by the RATP Group, an international public transport operator owned by the government of France...
in 2008 and 2009.
Operational history
The first hybrid buses to enter service in London were six Wright ElectrocityWright Electrocity
The Wright Electrocity is a type of hybrid bus built by Wrightbus. There were originally two prototypes, one based on Dennis Dart SLF chassis and the other based on DAF SB120 chassis...
single-deckers. These were ordered in March 2005 to operate on route 360
London Buses route 360
London Buses route 360 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Go-Ahead London.-History:...
. The buses were unveiled by the then Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
, Ken Livingstone
Ken Livingstone
Kenneth Robert "Ken" Livingstone is an English politician who is currently a member of the centrist to centre-left Labour Party...
, on February 7, 2006, with the intention of starting operation on the following day.
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
Wrightbus
Wrightbus is an independent coachbuilder and pioneer of the low-floor bus. Based in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, it was established in 1946 by Robert Wright and currently run by his son William Wright.-History:...
, was the first hybrid double-decker in the world, and was painted in red and green to symbolise the environmental benefits. It entered service in February 2007 on route 141
London Buses route 141
London Buses route 141 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. The service is contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
.
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. However, the last of these did not enter service until July, when six Volvo B5L
Volvo B5L
The Volvo B5L is a hybrid-electric powered bus built by Volvo since 2008.The design of the chassis is similar to that of the Volvo B7L...
double-deckers joined the existing vehicles on route 141.
Current operations
190 hybrid buses are currently in use in London, operating on routes 12London Buses route 12
London Buses route 12 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Go-Ahead London.-History:...
,16
London Buses route 16
London Buses route 16 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Metroline.-History:...
, 24
London Buses route 24
London Buses route 24 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Go-Ahead London.-History:This route dates back to 1910, when it ran between Hampstead Heath and Victoria...
, 73
London Buses route 73
London Buses route 73 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London...
, 76, 94
London Buses route 94
London Buses route 94 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to London United.-History:...
, 139
London Buses route 139
London Buses route 139 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Metroline for London Buses.-History:...
, 141
London Buses route 141
London Buses route 141 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. The service is contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
, 328
London Buses route 328
London Buses route 328 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.-History:...
, 360
London Buses route 360
London Buses route 360 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Go-Ahead London.-History:...
, 371, 380, 436
London Buses route 436
London Buses route 436 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Go-Ahead London.-History:...
, 490, E8
London Buses route E8
London Buses route E8 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. The service is currently contracted to Metroline.-History:...
and H91
London Buses route H91
London Buses route H91 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to London United.-History:...
.
A variety of models of hybrid vehicle are currently used. These include the Wright Electrocity and Optare Tempo
Optare Tempo
The Optare Tempo is a full-size single-deck bus manufactured by Optare and was launched in late 2004. It is marketed and sold as the replacement for the Optare Excel.It is designed as a lightweight bus, to use less fuel than traditional heavy duty integrals....
single-deckers and the Volvo B5L
Volvo B5L
The Volvo B5L is a hybrid-electric powered bus built by Volvo since 2008.The design of the chassis is similar to that of the Volvo B7L...
, Wright Gemini 2
Wright Gemini 2
The Wright Gemini 2 is a double-decker bus built by Wrightbus since 2008. It was announced in December 2007 but was not named until 2008.It was constructed as an integral with VDL chassis modules. It is available in two versions, the diesel-powered version and the diesel-electric hybrid version...
and Alexander Dennis Enviro400 double-deckers. Route 141 used to be the only route that operated with two types of hybrid.
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.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.13 are currently on order for use by Abellio London on route 188
London Buses route 188
London Buses route 188 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Abellio London.-History:...
from late 2011.
26 ADL Enviro400 hybrids are currently on order for use by Stagecoach London
Stagecoach London
Stagecoach London , is a bus company which principally operates services in the UK capital city of London, under contract to the London Buses arm of Transport for London. It was formed in 1989 as a subsidiary of London Buses. The company privatised in 1994 and acquired by the Stagecoach Group, but...
on route 15 from December 2011 and a further 24 ADL Enviro400 hybrids are currently on order for use by Abellio London on route 3 from February 2012.
6 ADL Enviro400 Hybrids are currently on order for use by Abellio London on route 211 from June 2012, a further 15 Volvo B5L
Volvo B5L
The Volvo B5L is a hybrid-electric powered bus built by Volvo since 2008.The design of the chassis is similar to that of the Volvo B7L...
Hybrid 10.4m / Wright Eclipse Gemini 2s are currently on order for use by Go-Ahead London
Go-Ahead London
Go-Ahead London is the trading name used collectively for the London bus operations of the Go-Ahead Group. The name first appeared in August 2008, before which the company had traded under separate names and brands...
on route 19 from March 2012 and further 22 ADL Enviro400 Hybrids are currently on order for use by First Centrewest on route 23 from April 2012.