Forget images of those iconic red London double deckers wending their way around the crowded streets of the British capital, London transport has just taken a step into the future of travel after a fleet of 20 new electric buses was launched this week.
Some may be excused for thinking that London has got new trams after seeing the new electric buses rolled out by Transport for London.
The new buses resemble tram-like trolleybuses which were a familiar sight on London roads until they were phased out in the 1960s.
However Transport for London hasn’t suddenly expanded its tram network which is still used to connects four south London boroughs. Instead, it has now rolled out its long-waited chargeable electric buses serving particular routes.
The fleet of 20 buses are charged by pantographs and have started running between the London suburbs of Crystal Palace and Orpington, a distance of around 24km.
The battery-powered red single deck articulated buses represent the latest technology for buses including the pantograph charging function.
They can be charged in as little as six minutes by the arm-like structure attached to the bus roof .This means the buses don’t have to return to the depot to recharge and also means it requires fewer buses to serve a route.
Along with improved seats, USB charging ports and anti-slip floors, the new generation buses boast several features designed to make them safer.
The wheels look different to other London buses, with the electric fleet using has covered wheels which have been designed to stop pedestrians and cyclists from being dragged underneath in a crash.
They also feature speed limits, and audible warnings to alert pedestrians and other road users of bus movements, while drivers will use cameras and monitors instead of conventional glass mirrors.
Transport for London said the buses also have a ‘safer’ front.
Lorna Murphy, director of buses at Transport for London, said that installing new rapid-charging pantograph infrastructure on one of London’s longest bus routes is an innovative step forward, helping to run cleaner, greener services that get Londoners where they need to be.
The British capital now boasts more than 1,700 zero-emission buses, which is the largest fleet in western Europe.
The new pantograph fleet is part of achieving what London Mayor Sadiq Khan says is his ‘Vision Zero goal’ to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries on London roads.
The newest additions to the London bus fleet have been supplied by the Spanish company Irizar, and are part of the City of London goal of transitioning to a fully zero-emission fleet by 2030.
Ben Curtis, the head of external affairs at Campaign for Better Transport, said buses are the most used form of sustainable transport in London and bus electrification is key to cutting road emissions and cleaning our air.
‘It’s fantastic to see how innovative technology like pantograph charging can be used to keep Transport for London buses green and efficient and support operation on longer routes on the network,” said Ben Curtis.
