In a bid to reduce the environmental impact of London’s 8,000 diesel-powered buses, 300 single and double-deck, eco-friendly hybrid models are to be introduced to the city’s streets by 2011. By the end of January 2009, the number of hybrid buses in the Capital will more than quadruple to 56 buses – the largest fleet of hybrid buses in Britain.
Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “Londoners that travel on buses with the green leaf livery can rest comfortably in their seats and enjoy clear environmental consciences, safe in the knowledge that their journey will guzzle far less fuel and expire a whopping forty per cent less carbon dioxide than a regular bus.”
The Mayor has said that the replacement for the Routemaster should run on a hybrid engine. What makes a hybrid bus greener? Conventional diesel-powered buses are responsible for high levels of particulate – or soot – emissions that are damaging to our health. In a hybrid bus a much smaller diesel engine runs constantly, but at peak efficiency, to produce power for clean and quiet electric motors. To date, buses fitted with the “HybriDrive system” are estimated to have dramatically reduced particulate emissions as well as saving five million gallons of diesel fuel and 50,000 tons of carbon emissions.
12 comments:
I hope this is a sign of things to come. Happy new year guys!
"Green leafl livery"???? Good grief.
Hybrid buses = good for all. Finally buses go green. Very overdue. Now reduce the fares since it costs less to run them please.
Yes, I agree. 2 Bob for a stop and a half is extortionate. You won't get anyone on buses at that rate.
"IN THE CAPITAL". No hint of hybrid drive in outer London boroughs hmmm..
I didn't spot that, you're right. This hybrid drive affects few of us as it's not even being rolled out across London!!!! Oh Boris!
Standard diesel buses are VERY damaging to our health and you expect us to support them? no thanks. All buses need to be hybrid. NOW>
I've seen one in Harrow, I think it was the 186.
"What makes a hybrid bus greener? Conventional diesel-powered buses are responsible for high levels of particulate – or soot – emissions that are damaging to our health."
WTF? This is really worrying and we only get to find this out now? Why were these buses allowed on the road?
I don't think it's any different from a diesel truck.
But I don't take a diexsel powered truck to work everyday.
The point to note is how polluting and damaging they are in context. A diesel powered bus carrying 20-30people is much less polluting per person and per mile compared to a standard vehicle, and especially compared to a diesel fuelled vehicle.
The key is how polluting is it per body. One car carrying 1 person is an awful lot of road space for an average person who could stand in the space of one tyre in terms of width and the number of pollutants being emitted per person per mile is vastly disproportionate to the less polluting bus.
Also the move to hybrid by operators and London is a move to be applauded and supported as this only makes the pollutants and particulates that much more less, making buses second to most modes of transport that are less polluting. Perhaps even number 3 after walking and cycling!
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