Skip to main content

‘Green bus’ guide launched

The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) has launched the Low Emission Bus (LEB) Guide, which aims to be a vital reference for bus operators and local authorities, providing 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 a
November 2, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) has launched the Low Emission Bus (LEB) Guide, which aims to be a vital reference for bus operators and local authorities, providing 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.

It 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 is committed to limiting climate change and improving local air quality. 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.

As the LowCVP’s LEB Guide shows, 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.

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.”

Related Content

  • Vivacity sheds light on cycle routes 
    June 17, 2021
    Councils in 30 sites near London, UK, will use Vivacity's AI and IoT data and sensors
  • Greensboro Transit Authority lo debut Poterra electric bus fleet
    November 15, 2017
    Manufacturer of zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles Proterra has announced that Greensboro Transit Authority (GTA) will purchase four of its electric buses this fall as part of a joint effort to minimize emissions, reduce traffic congestion and accelerate sustainable infrastructure development. The 40-foot Proterra buses will replace retiring fossil fuel buses and are designed with the intention of eliminating more than 1.2 million lbs of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Over their 12-year lifespan, the
  • P3s offer new options for public transit agencies
    March 28, 2018
    David Crawford welcomes new US guidance on public-private partnerships in the public transit sector. Public-private partnerships (P3s) are becoming increasingly favoured as a means of cost-effectively delivering much-needed public transit projects across the US. Previously, researched examples have tended to be on the large-scale while information on the potential for smaller, more localised schemes has been comparatively sparse. In a bid to fill that gap, the ‘Public Transportation Guidebook for Small
  • A new way to manage parking demand
    July 21, 2021
    Parking permit changes at one US campus could provide a model for encouraging active travel options post-Covid – and for transit ticketing adjustments as commuting patterns change