Request ID: FOI-2952-2223 Date published: 28 February 2023
You asked
Bus Electrification / Zero Emission Zone
I am making an FOI regarding bus electrification & a Zero Emission zone proposed in Central London by 2025.
It's been stated a few years ago that there are plans to make a Zero Emission zone in Central London, is this still on the cards?
If yes, how will bus route vehicles be changed to meet the requirements?
Will the entire TFL Bus Fleet be converted to 100% Electric and Hydrogen (Zero Emission) by 2030?
What is the latest progress?
Going forward, will bus routes only be awarded with Zero Emission buses in their tender contracts to meet the 2030 target/ambition?
We answered
TfL Ref: 2952-2223
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 9 February 2023 asking for information about our buses. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require. You asked: I am making an FOI regarding bus electrification & a Zero Emission zone proposed in Central London by 2025. It's been stated a few years ago that there are plans to make a Zero Emission zone in Central London, is this still on the cards? If yes, how will bus route vehicles be changed to meet the requirements? Will the entire TFL Bus Fleet be converted to 100% Electric and Hydrogen (Zero Emission) by 2030? What is the latest progress? Going forward, will bus routes only be awarded with Zero Emission buses in their tender contracts to meet the 2030 target/ambition?
TfL is committed to cleaning London’s air and achieving a carbon neutral London by 2030. Already we have taken bold steps to drive forward the uptake of zero emission vehicles across London. TfL now requires all new taxi and private hire vehicles to be zero emission capable as well as supported the delivery of over 300 rapid charge points, contributing to almost 12,000 electric vehicle charge points in London. The Ultra Low Emission Zone will be expanded to cover all of London’s boroughs later this year to reflect that the 4,000 premature deaths in London in 2019 due to air quality fell disproportionately on outer London residents.
TfL has supported trials of Zero Emission Zones (ZEZs) including the City of London scheme at Beech Street. TfL will continue to support any boroughs who are interested in taking forward local schemes in support of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy (MTS) ZEZ targets. However, since the MTS was published we have updated London-wide zero emission zone plans for 2050 to include a more ambitious interim step of achieving net zero carbon London in 2030 and TfL’s focus will now be on developing plans to deliver this, alongside supporting local ZEZs.
TfL is committed to converting the entire bus fleet to zero-emission no later than 2034. Any new bus entering the fleet will be zero-emission to support our 2034 target. There are currently over 900 zero-emission buses in the fleet operating across multiple routes in London. TfL remains open to trialling all zero-emission technology, and have a mixture of hydrogen fuel cell, battery electric and electric ‘opportunity charged’ buses in the London fleet.
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Yours sincerely
Sara Thomas FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
