From Greater London Authority news release
As the UK prepares to host the important COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has announced that all new buses ordered by Transport for London (TfL) for the capital will now be zero-emission, building on its recent achievement of making its entire bus fleet compliant with strict Euro VI emission standards – the same standards as the Ultra Low Emission Zone.
The increased use of public transport is already a fundamental part of tackling the twin emergencies of toxic air pollution and climate change, but it can play an even bigger role in helping London reach the zero-emission, zero carbon future necessary to protect the health of Londoners and the environment. One of the major things that TfL can do to decarbonise its services is to remove diesel and continue to make the network zero-emission. Making buses zero-emission will save four million tonnes of carbon by 2037, and moving the date forward to 2030 will save an additional one million tonnes
TfL has already significantly invested in the zero-emission bus industry, with 950 zero-emission buses on the road or on order. With the market now more mature and expanding in the UK, TfL can guarantee that it will only purchase new zero-emission buses, so that a fully zero-emission bus network can be delivered three years earlier in 2034. However, the UK Government is aiming to reduce carbon emissions by 68 per cent by 2030. With Government support, TfL can bring London’s bus fleet into the scope of delivering on that target and achieve a fully zero-emission fleet by 2030.
The crucial announcement comes as the Mayor hosts the Zero-emission Bus Summit. The summit, organised by the Campaign for Better Transport and TfL, will see representatives from central and local government, bus operators, manufacturers and wider stakeholders meet today (Friday 17 September) at City Hall to drive forward the uptake of zero-emission buses across the UK. This work is fundamental to achieving the Government’s decarbonisation aim and improving air quality and protecting people’s health across the country. It is also a great demonstration of how tackling the climate crisis and growing our economy across the UK is about regions working together and investing in new technologies.
Making London’s large bus fleet zero-emission will give British bus manufacturers confidence in large orders enabling them to significantly ramp up production. This will allow local UK authorities to progress towards zero-emission targets that would not be possible otherwise. The acceleration of London’s shift to zero-emission is bringing down costs and enhancing products for the entire country, and with committed funding from the DfT, TfL can ensure that the Government’s commitment to 4,000 zero-emission buses can be achieved faster.
With London making up a third to half of all new bus orders in the UK in any given year, increasing the number of these buses in the capital is also supporting 3,000 jobs across the UK, such as at the Alexander Dennis (ADL) factories in Scarborough and Falkirk, Switch Mobility near Leeds and Wrightbus in Ballymena, Northern Ireland.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “In the year of COP26 and after setting out my ambition for London to be net zero by 2030, I’m committed to do all I can to help clean up the transport network and reduce its emissions.
“London’s toxic air is a shameful health crisis which is causing premature deaths and stunting the growth of children’s lungs. Today, as part of our work to tackle both the harmful emissions we breathe and the climate emergency, I am proud to announce that London will no longer procure new diesel or hybrid buses and will only procure zero-emission buses.
“Today’s announcement builds on the progress we’ve already made tackling toxic air pollution. I’ve worked hard to ensure TfL’s entire bus fleet across now meets the ULEZ standards, this includes 550 zero-emission buses. We need to act now and accelerate the transition to a greener future, with cleaner air for all.”
Louise Cheeseman, TfL’s Director of Buses, said: “The world has woken up to the desperate need to make big changes to tackle the climate emergency, and the single biggest thing we can do is to move to a zero-emission bus network as soon as possible.
“We’ve done everything possible to make the bus network clean and now we are focussed on making it green, which is why it’s so important that we’re able to commit that all new buses in London will be zero-emission. We’re now working to have a completely zero-emission bus network as soon as possible, and with Government support we could do this by 2030 while also stimulating the bus market.
“Every town, city and region has a part to play in reducing the country’s carbon emissions and addressing climate change. The Zero-emission Bus Summit is bringing together all the key players in the bus industry, local and national government and other stakeholders to share best practice and turbo-charge the movement to zero-emission nationally.”
Norman Baker, from Campaign for Better Transport which is chairing the Bus Summit, said: “Buses are already one of the most environmentally friendly ways to travel and this announcement will make them even greener, further reducing carbon emissions and air pollution. But there needs to be more support from central government in the form of additional funding, building local authorities’ capabilities, speeding up the roll out of charging infrastructure and encouraging more people to choose the bus.”
Road traffic, including cars and vans as well as buses, is the single biggest source of air pollution in the capital and accounts for around half of all emissions of harmful nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM). Transport also produces one quarter of London’s carbon emissions. TfL’s bus fleet has led the way to make its existing diesel buses as clean as possible, but TfL is keen to go further by moving to green electric and hydrogen to eradicate harmful air pollutants and carbon dioxide from the propulsion systems.
Paul Davies, President & Managing Director, Alexander Dennis Limited: “Transport for London’s accelerated investment in zero-emission buses is great news for the environment and the people of London as much as for the communities and businesses across the UK where these buses will be designed and manufactured, not only helping to underpin skilled jobs and apprenticeships but providing the strong foundation that the UK bus industry needs to prosper both domestically and internationally. The UK Government has the opportunity to further strengthen Britain’s bus manufacturing industry and its world-class expertise in clean bus technology by enabling an even faster transition through additional funding for London.”
I’ve quoted a Freedom of Information release on why TfL award some route contracts with existing buses instead of new buses by operators; they stated: “Our focus is on achieving cost effective roll out of zero-emission buses and conversion of the entire route was not cost effective.” You can read more in my previous article here.
Earlier this month the London Mayor answered a question on why TfL won’t make direct purchases of the new zero-emission battery electric and hydrogen fuel-cell buses like they did with 1,000 New Routemasters and 20 double-deck hydrogen buses for routes 7 and 245.
Session date: September 9, 2021
Question By: Unmesh Desai
TfL stated in a Freedom of Information request they have recently purchased 20 double deck hydrogen buses and leased them to Metroline for route 7. TfL have been using the same arrangement by directly purchasing 1,000 New Routemasters and leasing them to private operators to use for their routes. Why hasn't TfL made direct purchases of new electric buses and leased them to private operators for their routes, for the purpose of reaching their target of 100% zero-emission bus fleet?
Answered By: The Mayor
Date: Friday, 17th September 2021
The default position – where the bus operators and lease companies invest in buses meeting London’s requirements – has been demonstrated to be a particularly cost-effective and efficient way to continually upgrade the fleet. This model has enabled the introduction of nearly 600 zero-emission buses comprising many makes and models, with more in the pipeline. There is currently no need for Transport for London (TfL) to make direct purchases and, if there was, this would entail significant capital expenditure which TfL does not have available through its temporary funding deal with Government.
TfL’s previous direct purchases were limited to vehicles designed exclusively for London use such as the New Routemaster (NRM). The bespoke nature of these buses made them highly unlikely to find extended service lives outside of the capital and therefore buying them directly was more economic.
Direct purchase was deemed appropriate in the case of the 20 double-deck hydrogen fuel cell buses being deployed on routes 7 and 245 through the JIVE (Joint Initiative for Hydrogen Vehicles across Europe) project because this involved a much smaller number of vehicles, a unique grant funding arrangement with the European Union and the Office for Low-Emission Vehicles, a technology very much in its infancy where operators were unable to justify taking on the risk of purchase and lease companies unable to offer competitive terms.
Demand for electric buses now extends well beyond London with a significant UK and worldwide market for many makes and models. This means that electric buses are readily available for purchasing or leasing at competitive prices and their use is not limited to London. TfL’s funding position is also now markedly less healthy, making large capital purchases unaffordable for the foreseeable future without external support.
That’s quite an interesting and detailed response from the Mayor of London. As I’ve stated in my previous article, buses designed exclusively to London are obsolete because some manufacturers have adopted the design cues from the New Routemaster (notably the glazed staircase) which is seen on buses throughout Great Britain and various cities around the world.
To wrap up the article, I’ll show you two Freedom of Information releases from TfL about the electric buses and hydrogen fuel-cell buses.
Request ID: FOI-0985-2122
Date published: 27 August 2021
Electric Buses Roll Out
Will TFL continue to Electric Buses programme?
We are introducing further zero-emission buses to our contracted fleet with a view to making it entirely zero emission not later than 2037. We have developed options for bringing this date forward, subject to external funding being provided. Some of this strategy is mentioned in our proposed Financial Sustainability Plan which can be viewed at https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/business-plan
The speed of the introduction is very much dependent on financial support and we await clarity on this from central Government. TfL is currently funded by the Department for Transport up to December this year.
Will anymore Hydrogen Buses be ordered rather than Electric?
Any further Hydrogen Bus orders will be dependent on the attractiveness of proposals put forward by operators in their tender submissions; and the availability of funding.
What is the plan for Hybrid vehicles? Will they remain in service?
We envisage most hydrid buses being retained in the fleet until they are due for replacement. If external funding is provided to help us go zero emission we will develop a plan for any vehicles that may need to leave the fleet earlier than expected. We do not have a current plan for this.
Is there a target date for when all (pure) Diesel vehicles will be phased out of the TFL Bus Network?
We envisage diesel buses disappearing from the contracted London fleet by 2037 with an earlier deadline possible if external funding is provided.
Request ID: FOI-0679-2122
Date published: 29 July 2021
Source of hydrogen for existing and new fleet of hydrogen buses
“Would be able to provide information on the current source of the hydrogen used to fuel TfLs fleet of hydrogen busses, and an indication of future plans (if any) on how TfL plans to reduce the C02 footprint of the procured hydrogen.
Information that would be helpful would include: Names of the supplier(s), how it is produced (e.g. using natural gas or coal, electrolysis) and how it reaches the TfL depots from the point of production (e.g. by sea and then road). Any information on how you measure and assess the true carbon footprint of the busses would be helpful - for example if you have controls in your procurement process of the carbon intensity of the hydrogen.”
Question 1: Names of the supplier(s)?
NEL Hydrogen.
Question 2: how it is produced (e.g. using natural gas or coal, electrolysis).
It is produced through chlor-alkali electrolysis (which is used to create Chlorine from Sodium Chloride for industrial chemicals - one of the by-products of this process is hydrogen that would otherwise be wasted).
Question 3: how it reaches the TfL depots from the point of production (e.g. by sea and then road).
By road.
Question 4: Any information on how you measure and assess the true carbon footprint of the busses would be helpful - for example if you have controls in your procurement process of the carbon intensity of the hydrogen.
Well-to-tank emissions of bids were evaluated as part of procurement process using methodology published by DEFRA. Bids had to achieve (as a minimum) a carbon reduction over the current incumbent vehicle type used on the bus route, Euro VI diesel hybrid, and were scored upon the level of emission generated, hence the winning bid being green hydrogen.
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