Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership publishes ‘green bus’ guide

The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) has launched a ‘green bus’ guide for operators and local authorities. The Low Emission Bus (LEB) Guide was unveiled at the Euro Bus Expo 2016, which is taking place at the NEC in Birmingham from 1-3 November.

The LEB Guide aims to provide an overview of the benefits of a range of low emission fuels and technologies that reduce both air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The guide is intended to equip bus operators and local authorities with information to aid purchasing decisions, and encourage the adoption of the most appropriate low emission bus technology and associated infrastructure for particular routes and applications.

LowCVP managing director Andy Eastlake said: “Maintaining our ability to move around in increasingly congested towns and cities is more critical today than ever before. With road transport responsible for around a quarter of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions and up to 60% of roadside NOx pollution in many cities around the UK, the introduction of cleaner, low emission buses is a key component - and a good example - of how we can achieve a low emission transport future.”

The LEB Guide covers a range of technologies including: electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electrified ancillaries, hydrogen fuel cell, biomethane, renewable diesel and retrofit selective catalytic reduction. It outlines both the emissions performance and the operational and financial factors fleet operators should consider when procuring new buses and the associated infrastructure requirements and implications. Real-world bus operator case studies are provided to highlight and demonstrate the environmental and business cases for the range of different technologies and fuels.

The UK government has made a commitment committed to limiting climate change and improving local air quality. One inititieve, the establishment of Clean Air Zones (CAZ), will discourage the use of older, more polluting buses, taxis, coaches and lorries by charging them to access key areas. Bus operators will be under increasing pressure to reduce the emissions impact of their operations.

Transport minister John Hayes said: “Buses are the most popular form of public transport and millions of people rely on them every day. Low emission vehicles can make a real difference to air quality in towns and cities, which is why we have committed £30m to help pay for more than 300 new cleaner buses. This guide will give operators and councils the information they need to adopt these greener vehicles.”

LowCVP’s LEB Guide also shows how the purchase of low emission buses can also offer life-cycle cost/total cost of ownership benefits to bus operators, demonstrating a clear business case for choosing alternative technologies.

In 2015, 40% of new buses sold met the requirements for low carbon qualification, says LowCVP. The UK’s success in rapidly transforming the UK bus market from a significant part of the emissions problem to being a vital component of the solution in terms of clean mobility is a demonstration of effective collaboration between technology developers, operators, policy makers and other stakeholders.

The LowCVP is a public-private, not-for-profit partnership that exists to accelerate a sustainable shift to lower carbon vehicles and fuels and create opportunities for UK businesses. The LowCVP is mainly funded by the Department for Transport, but receives increasing contributions via membership fees and sponsorship/project income. Approaching 200 organisations are members, from diverse backgrounds including automotive and fuel supply chains, vehicle users, academics and environment/not-for-profit bodies.