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Number of London’s electric buses triple in bid to improve air quality

Transport for London (TfL) has announced it will soon be operating 51 electric businesses across two routes in an attempt to improve the city’s air quality.

Buses on routes 507 and 521 will be replaced by the greener electric vehicles next year. These routes will join route 312 in south London, which will become the first all-electric bus route in the autumn.

Routes 507 and 521 link Waterloo station to Victoria and London Bridge stations respectively and, when converted, 51 electric buses will operate across the two routes.

Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy Matthew Pencharz told the Standard: “The expansion of London’s electric bus fleet demonstrates our commitment to reducing emissions from public transport in London.

“The Ultra Low Emission Zone that will be introduced in 2020 is the most ambitious measure of its kind taken to tackle air pollution anywhere in the world, and it will transform our bus fleet into a cleaner, greener and more pleasant way of travelling for Londoners.”

Mike Weston, TfL’s director of buses, said: “I am delighted to announce that two further routes are to convert to fully electric operation - giving our passengers a quieter, smoother journey and also delivering significant environmental benefits.

“Electric buses represent another important step in our ongoing efforts to reduce emissions, significantly improving air quality in the capital.”

By 2020 there will be 300 electric buses in passenger service in the Capital.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .