Thank you for your email received by us on 12 May 2017 asking for information about Vantage Power and London Buses.
 
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require. You asked:
 
What companies were part of the procurement process for retro fit hybrid power trains?
 
This is a technology trial on six buses with hybrid power train designer and manufacturer, Vantage Power, in partnership with three bus operators.
 
How many buses have these?
 
Six buses are in the trial; two buses per operators GoAhead, RATP’s London United and Arriva.
 
What was the cost per bus?
 
In accordance with the EIR, we are not obliged to supply the cost of each bus as it is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information under regulation 12 (5) (e).
 
In this instance Regulation 12(5)(e) has been applied as disclosure of this expenditure would adversely affect the confidentiality of commercial or industrial information, where such confidentiality is provided by law to protect a legitimate economic interest. Our economic interests, as well as those of Vantage Power, would be adversely affected as it would affect our ability to competitively tender for similar initiatives in the long term since disclosure may result in a clustering of bids based on the current manufacturing costs involved. Similarly, it could affect Vantage Power’s ability to compete for tendering opportunities with other companies in the future, as their competitive edge would inevitably be prejudiced by disclosure of how much it costs to produce this specialist machinery. In addition, disclosure would also breach the confidentiality agreement between ourselves and Vantage Power.
 
The use of this exception is subject to an assessment of the public interest in relation to the disclosure of the information concerned. We recognise the need for openness and transparency by public authorities, particularly where the expenditure of public money is concerned, but in this instance the public interest in ensuring that we are able to obtain the best value for public money outweighs the general public interest in increasing transparency of our processes.
 
What is the reduction in fuel consumption by year since installation in £ and %?
 
What is the emission reduction by year since installation in kg and %?
 
Any report defects or problems with the system?
 
We do not hold this information, due to it being a very recent trial as the first two buses re-entered service in April 2017.
 
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
 
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
 
Yours sincerely
 
 
Jasmine Howard
FOI Case Officer
Information Governance
Transport For London