Skip to main content

UK organisations participate in EU green urban transport project

The UK’s Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), along with partners Transport and Travel Research (TTR) and several other leading UK organisations, are taking part in a 42-month innovative demonstration project which is investigating zero emission urban bus systems. The project, known as ZeEUS, is being co-ordinated by the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) and is co-funded by the DG Mobility and Transport of the European Commission with a budget of US$31 million (US$18.6 million EU fun
April 1, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
The UK’s Transport Research Laboratory (491 TRL), along with partners Transport and Travel Research (TTR) and several other leading UK organisations, are taking part in a 42-month innovative demonstration project which is investigating zero emission urban bus systems.  

The project, known as ZeEUS, is being co-ordinated by the 3833 International Association of Public Transport (UITP) and is co-funded by the DG Mobility and Transport of the 1690 European Commission with a budget of US$31 million (US$18.6 million EU funded).

The project aims to facilitate the widespread introduction of electrified bus systems in Europe by demonstrating a number of different technological solutions for electric buses. These will operate as part of regular bus services in eight European cities, including Glasgow and London.  Subsequent analysis of the results will lead to the development of guidelines and tools to assist with the implementation of such systems.  Leading manufacturers in bus electrification are participating and will be providing plug-in hybrids or full electric buses. These will use different charging infrastructure and strategies for ensuring the buses are able to cope with the demands of the operational routes.

TRL is leading the evaluation for both of the UK demonstration sites. In London this is being established and led by 1466 Transport for London and in Glasgow by 2050 Strathclyde Partnership for Transport. However, TRL has a wider role to play across the project as a whole, helping to define the demonstration key performance indicators and in developing the trial methodologies for data collection and evaluation.

The electric buses being deployed in the UK will have a particularly unique element as they will be the only demonstrators in ZeEUS that will use wireless charging. Buses will be charged opportunistically during the day, which will allow them to complete routes that would otherwise be too demanding for regular electric buses.

In all, TRL and TTR are working on nine tasks associated with this project:  other areas include the assessment of regulatory and funding instruments for the procurement of electric buses; the grid effects on electrified bus systems; business cases related to bus depot operation; smart control of electric bus fleets and process evaluation.

Related Content

  • March 22, 2012
    Volvo warns EU on its approach to electric vehicles and its transport white paper
    Volvo Car Corporation warns that EU targets for cutting carbon dioxide emissions are being jeopardised by the absence of harmonised incentives to consumers. Another key issue is the urge for continuous support to automotive research and development, including electromobility. Stefan Jacoby, president and CEO of Volvo Car Corporation, told an industry seminar in Brussels yesterday that jobs, investment and competitiveness in the European car industry could be threatened by the European Commission's approach
  • January 11, 2017
    The bus future is electric, says UITP
    More and more cities in Europe and around the world are turning to electric buses (or e-buses) in an effort to go green according to UITP’s new ZeEUS eBus Report. The report, published as part of the Zero Emission Urban Bus System project, reveals that 19 public transport operators and authorities, covering around 25 European cities, have a published e-bus strategy for 2020. By this date, there should be more than 2,500 electric buses operating in these cities, representing six per cent of their total fl
  • April 30, 2014
    FTA, BMW support UK government funding for green cars
    The UK government has announced plans to invest US$840 million ultra-low emission vehicle industry. It is hoped that this will help drivers both afford and feel confident about using electric cars. Announcing the funding during a visit to the Transport Research Laboratory, Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister said: “Owning an electric car is no longer a dream or an inconvenience. Manufacturers are turning to this new technology to help motorists make their everyday journeys green and clean.”
  • June 14, 2013
    UK trial of electric cars proves they are greener
    Experts leading a major three-year trial into the impact of electric vehicles and the role they could play in our transport systems of the future, have shown that rolling them out across our city’s roads would protect both our health and the environment. Data gathered and analysed by transport experts at the UK’s Newcastle University shows that daytime air pollution levels in our towns and cities regularly exceed the Government’s recommended 40µg m-3 (21 parts per billion) for prolonged periods, putting peo