I am currently researching through the University of Colorado Boulder Economics Department, under my Honours advisor, working for CU-Boulder and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and am looking to formally and academically, request the data/documentation that confirms the deployment dates of the hybrid, electric, and hydrogen model buses running in the Special Emission Zones in London. With these bus deployment dates, air emissions data from London Air, and various controlling data, I could write my honors thesis on the effect of an electric bus fleet conversion on air quality. I understand this is a significant request--I plan to use this information for a publicly beneficial honors paper that highlights the importance of reducing urban air emissions.

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Our Ref: FOI-0071-1819

Thank you for your request received on 1 April 2018 asking for information about bus deployment dates.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we hold some of the information you require.

Two Low Emission Bus Zones (LEBZs) have gone live so far: Putney High Street and Brixton to Streatham. More are to follow this year but we do not have confirmed dates as we are still working through the logistics with the Mayor’s Office and our bus operators (who own or lease vehicles for bus services they are contracted to provide in the capital). The responsibility to monitor air quality lies with the borough, so you may wish to contact the London Borough of Wandsworth if you require further information on their monitoring statistics. They can be contacted via their website:

www.wandsworth.gov.uk

We deploy conventional diesel Euro VI buses along the zones (not electric or hydrogen fuel cell buses) which are either retrofitted to meet that emission standard or new (in which case they must meet the latest engine emission standard and mostly include hybrid systems). Our main concern is what comes out of the tailpipe as many factors affect air quality including climate and other contributors. That is what we can influence most. It is the Euro VI engine and its exhaust after-treatment system that reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) by up to 95 and 80 per cent respectively compared to earlier generation vehicles. These are the emissions most harmful to health from diesel vehicles. The hybrid system makes little difference to these but it does reduce fuel consumption and CO2 by up to 30 per cent and this helps us tackle climate change and have a more environmentally sustainable fleet.

More information can be found using the following links:

General summary: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/buses/improving-buses -
First zone launch: https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2017/march/gla---mayor-launches-first-low-emission-bus-zone
Some emission results: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-42338609
Wandsworth statement: http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/site/scripts/news_article.php?newsID=14330
Wandsworth data: https://www.airqualitynews.com/2017/08/16/significant-drop-in-no2-recorded-on-putney-high-street/
GLA data on emission spots in London: https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/london-atmospheric-emissions-inventory-2013

Our plan is to have 12 zones in place and for all buses in the fleet to meet or better the Euro VI emission standard by 2020. LEBZs criteria is below:-

• Where buses are forecast to still be contributing 40% or more of road transport NOx in 2020;
• Where pollutant concentrations are currently above EU limit values for NO2 and are forecast to continue to exceed in 2020; and
• Outside of the central Ultra-Low Emission Zone.

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please feel free to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely

Gemma Jacob
FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London

[email protected]

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