TfL have confirmed today that their fleet — upwards of 9000 buses — now all meet or exceed the cleanest of the Euro VI emission standards.
What does that mean for air quality?
- NOx emissions from buses have fallen by an average of 90% across London, after TfL started work in 2017 to retrofit older buses with cleaner engines, and remove diesel buses from the fleet.
- Each retrofitted bus emits up to 95% less NOx and 80% less particulate matter than pre-retrofit.
- The proportion of London's transport NOx (nitrogen oxide) emissions coming from TfL’s buses has fallen from 15% to 4%.
What's next?
- More than 400 electric buses have already been folded into London's routes, with a target of another 300 zero-emission buses to be introduced by the end of 2021 — and a target of 2000 electric buses to be operational by 2025.
Sadiq Khan said:
Today’s announcement is a major part of our plan to transform London’s entire bus fleet, which has reduced bus NOx emissions London-wide by an average of 90 per cent. It will play a key role in London’s green recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to provide job opportunities in London and across the UK. It also complements my plans to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone up to the North and South Circular Roads in October this year.
- Changes to the Low Emission Zone standards for heavier vehicles come into effect from 1 March, 2021, and you can see more details here.
