Upcoming London Bus Routes to Convert to Electric Buses Throughout 2021 and Early 2022 – and the Latest London Bus Tender Awards

First of all, the long awaited London Bus tender awards have finally been announced with another route converting to electric buses.

Yes I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted on my website, but now I’ve found something interesting to write up.

LBSL intends to enter into a new contract for the following route with the operator listed below:

Route	Current Operator	New Operator	PVR	Vehicles
W15	Tower Transit	Go Ahead London General	21	Electric single deck

The above contract will commence on the 5th March 2022.

Using the information taken from the Service Changes page of ‘London Bus Routes’ website, I’ve compiled a list of routes converting to electric buses during this year and early next year.

Route	Operator	PVR	Type	Expected date
49	RATP London United	15	Double	4 September 21
63	Abellio	26	Double	13 November 21
65	RATP London United	28	Double	3 July 21
125	RATP London Sovereign	17	Double	29 January 22
132	Go Ahead London Central	16	Double	2 October 21
160/660	Stagecoach London	13	Double	18 September 21
180	Stagecoach London	17*	Double	2 October 21
183	RATP London Sovereign	24	Double	4 September 21
200	Go Ahead London General	15	Double	May 21
235	RATP London United	20	Single	8 January 22
281	RATP London United	20	Double	3 July 21
290	RATP London United	7	Single	2 October 21
319	Arriva London	19	Double	September 21
358	Go Ahead Metrobus	17	Single	January 2022
371	RATP London United	13	Mix**	3 July 21
398	RATP London Sovereign	3	Single	4 September 21
H9/H10	RATP London Sovereign	16	Single	4 September 21
W15	Go Ahead London General	21	Single	5 March 22
X140	RATP London Sovereign	10	Double	4 September 21

* Mixed with existing hybrids

** A mixture of single and double electric buses

Depending on further announcements of London Bus tender awards, we may see more routes converting to electric buses early next year.

What happened with the Wrightbus Hydrogen Fuel Cell Streetdecks for route 7?

We are expecting the vehicles to enter service this month (May). Unfortunately the hydrogen infrastructure at Metroline’s Perivale Garage has been delayed yet again.

According to LOTS Bus News (Saturday 1 May release) they said:

Route 328 went to Metroline, initially using VH38117-136 on loan from Tower Transit, pending availability of their own VWHs; these have to remain on routes 7/N7 for now, until the hydrogen fuel cell installation at Perivale (PV) Garage can be put into commission. It looks like being several months yet.

You can read more about the hydrogen buses in my previous article here.

Update: Now currently in service (12 May 2021)

Now the London Mayoral Election is over and the Labour candidate Sadiq Khan has been re-elected... TfL is due for funding renewal by the Department for Transport shortly on the 18th May, anything can happen at this point and we have to wait for further developments.

What will happen to the three-door, two-staircase hybrid New Routemasters (NRMs)?

TfL’s ambition is to transform the London Bus fleet to full zero-emission by forwarding the target from 2037 to 2030 with government support; it depends on the political situation between the Department for Transport, TfL and the Mayor of London.

TfL has answered a Freedom of Information request on the future of the New Routemaster throughout the rollout of zero emission buses.

TfL Ref: FOI-0113-2122

1. When will the TFL Bus Network be 100% Zero Emission (Electric or Hydrogen)? Online it states by 2030, however will this target be met?

Our aim is to make TfL’s contracted bus fleet zero-emission not later than 2037. That is our current deadline. In our Financial Sustainability Plan to Government, we have explored options for bringing our target of 2037 forward to the end of 2030 to assist with decarbonisation of the UK economy. This is dependent on early support and funding coming forward from central Government.

2) What will happen to the newer Hybrids and New Routemasters in the long term? Will they eventually be withdrawn from service?

All vehicles have a finite life. We would expect the majority of vehicles, including Hybrids and New Routemasters, to be withdrawn after approximately 12-14 years of service in London. The vehicles are then sold off by their respective owners.

3) Bus routes that currently operate with New Routemasters will they continue for the long term or be converted to Zero Emission vehicles?

New Routemasters will continue to operate on their respective routes for the economic life of the vehicles generally. However, if a particular route attracts an attractive proposal for electric vehicles at re-tender of the route – the route may be converted to electric at that stage – with the New Routemaster vehicles being utilised elsewhere. As the New Routemaster fleet was built between 2012 and 2017, we would expect at least 90 per cent of that fleet to be due for natural replacement by the end of 2030 (see point 2 above). Should funding become available to implement a fully zero-emission fleet by the end of 2030, then a few New Routemaster vehicles may require early replacement.

4) I hear that by 2025 the entire bus network will be Zero Emission, if true will Hybrids and New Routemasters be upgraded to Zero Emission?

See item one above.

5) In the long term future will there be a similar project to New Routemasters in an Zero Emission form?

In terms of TfL plans for the foreseeable future, we do not envisage the development of a new bus for London.

In my opinion, the project to start the New Routemaster successor is obsolete because bus manufacturers have adopted design cues of the New Routemaster to their products, which is now seen on bus services in many areas of the UK and around the world including Berlin, Hong Kong and Singapore. It will be purely down to TfL if they want to continue providing three-door, two-staircase buses since they made all New Routemasters front door boarding only because of fare evasion issues.

Alexander Dennis (ADL) in partnership with BYD have provided the City bodywork featuring design cues from the NRM for the Enviro400EV product and currently there are 184 vehicles operating in London. The ADL’s City bodywork design was praised by NRM designer Thomas Heatherwick as a ‘back-to-front compliment’.

All the double deck electric bus routes (except for 200 which will use Switch Mobility Metrodecker EV) mentioned on the table above will use Alexander Dennis BYD Enviro400EV City vehicles.

Currently the Enviro400EV City serve routes: 43, 69, 94, 106, 173, 174, 212, 230, 357, 616 & 674.

The Switch Mobility (Optare) Metrodecker EVs operate on routes: 23, 134 & C3

You can read my previous article on how the New Routemaster design has evolved to other products.

Lastly, the new Electric Vehicle manufacturer Arrival sent out their volume 9 of Plus & Play email newsletter on 26 April 2021. On the ‘r/AskArrivalAnything’ section they have provided an update on their bus product.

Since TfL withdrawn the vintage AEC Routemaster from passenger service, do you plan to collaborate with TfL to design a new double-deck electric bus inspired by the AEC Routemaster and New Routemaster designed by Heatherwick Studio? I do understand the half-cab and open platform won't be suitable for the current condition of bus services in London.

There are definitely opportunities in the future for Arrival to develop an Electric Double Deck Bus thanks to the clever way the team have developed the modular vehicle architecture of our Single Deck Low Floor Bus.

However, as of now, our immediate focus is launching our Single Deck product to the market, planned for Q4 2021.

Stay tuned for future product updates.

You can subscribe to Arrival’s newsletters on their website for further updates. I expect to see something very interesting from Arrival in the near future.

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