Skip to main content

DfT appoints TRL to evaluate performance of low emission buses

The UK’s Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) has been commissioned by the Department for Transport (DfT) to monitor and evaluate the performance and impacts of low emission buses in 13 locations across the country. Positioned across the UK, variations of gas, full-electric, hybrid-electric and hydrogen fuel cell buses will be procured and operated by bus operators. TRL will carry out data collection and analysis of bus and infrastructure performance, cost savings and environmental impacts to create insig
August 22, 2017 Read time: 1 min
The UK’s Transport Research Laboratory (491 TRL) has been commissioned by the 1837 Department for Transport (DfT) to monitor and evaluate the performance and impacts of low emission buses in 13 locations across the country.


Positioned across the UK, variations of gas, full-electric, hybrid-electric and hydrogen fuel cell buses will be procured and operated by bus operators. TRL will carry out data collection and analysis of bus and infrastructure performance, cost savings and environmental impacts to create insight reports for the DfT and the bus industry. This will allow government and bus operators to make informed decisions about how to best develop their low emission bus fleets and infrastructure.

The trials are already underway and TRL will be looking to report back the interim projects findings in just over 12-months’ time.

Related Content

  • August 15, 2012
    Indra technology to manage Medellín’s traffic and public transportation
    Spain-headquartered Indra has become the technological leader for Medellín's traffic and transportation systems after being awarded two contracts valued at just over US$11 million. The first contract, awarded by the Medellín Subway, will allow the city to have an intermodal public transportation system that is unique in Colombia and will facilitate the management and the combined use of the subway and buses.
  • August 3, 2015
    Electric buses: more billion dollar orders
    China will spend up to one trillion dollars on electric buses over the coming 15 years according to analysts IDTechEx. This will reduce the impact of over 22.5 trillion dollars from air pollution over that time, at least one percent of GDP. More insurrection will occur if corrective action is insufficient because hundreds of thousands are dying from traffic pollution and far more are suffering resultant serious disease. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), outdoor air pollution caused 3.7 m
  • January 26, 2012
    Charging trial tests smartphones for road user charging
    A new project is under way in Minnesota, investigating whether smartphones are technically and publicly acceptable for use in road user charging. Jason Barnes reports. In Minnesota, trials have been launched to determine whether smartphones are technologically viable and acceptable to the public for distance based road user charging (RUC). The Midwestern US state has engaged with Battelle to explore RUC technology options in a project which falls under the auspices of the US Federal Connected Vehicle progra
  • November 26, 2012
    Trial results change perceptions of EVs
    The results of two one-year electric vehicle (EV) trials carried out in the Netherlands and Sweden were presented at the European Electric Vehicle Congress (EEVC) 2012. All aspects of EVs were taken into account during these trials; results show that after an EV is integrated in people’s daily use, most preconceptions are proved wrong.