Go-Ahead London has celebrated the 10th anniversary of the introduction of the capital’s first current-generation battery-electric bus.
Exactly a decade on from the start of a trial of a pair of BYD K9Es in London, school children and other guests were invited to the event in Camberwell, where a bus-shaped birthday cake was cut.
The operator now runs 520 zero-emission buses for Transport for London (TfL) and plans to take this into to four figures by 2026. Across the UK, the Go-Ahead Group operates 670 zero-emission buses.
As noted by TfL in September, more than 1,100 battery-electric bus are in operation in London, representing 13% of the entire fleet.
Go-Ahead London says its fleet has led to a saving of 40,000 tonnes of cardon dioxide emissions over the last 10 years, the equivalent to taking 24,000 cars off the road.
David Cutts, Managing Director of Go-Ahead London, says: “It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since our first electric bus hit the road. The technology has developed at a rapid pace and electric buses are rapidly become the norm, rather than the exception, on London’s streets.
“We’re proud to work in partnership with Transport for London to deliver cleaner air and quieter journeys for Londoners. The Go-Ahead Group as a whole has been able to take experience from London and apply it to the roll-out of zero emission buses across the UK.”
Tom Cunnington, TfL’s Head of Buses Business Development, adds: “London’s red buses are iconic and are some of the greenest in the world, with the lower CO2 emissions per passenger kilometres compared to other global cities like New York, Paris and Vancouver.
“With more than 1,300 zero emission buses on our roads, our programme of decarbonising the fleet is playing a crucial role in the journey to net-zero. Zero-emission buses help Londoners breathe cleaner air and reduce the impact of road transport on our environment.
“We’re really proud to be celebrating this milestone with Go-Ahead London who are marking 10 years of their emission-free electric bus services on our roads.
“We are working closely with capital’s bus operators to convert the whole fleet and remain on track to be a fully zero-emission fleet by 2034, which could be accelerated to 2030 with further Government funding.”
