The world's first fully-electric double-deck bus will shortly come into service on the streets of London. Transport for London have purchased five of the buses from Chinese automaker BYD to service two central London routes.
While single-deck electric buses can be seen in London and around the world, the double-deck bus…. known in the UK as a double-decker… represents a breakthrough in public transportation according to BYD, which had to come up with a new compact battery design to allow the technology to be applied to the larger bus. From London, our correspondent Catherine Drew reports.
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This is the sound of the world's first all electric double decker bus…. the engine is very quiet. That's not the only environmental advantage… there are zero emissions for this BYD bus, something which is being greatly welcomed in the capital according to London's deputy major for the environment and energy, matthew pencharz
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Chinese auto maker BYD responded to a challenge from London mayor Boris Johnson four years ago to come up with a fully electric double decker…in a bid to help with the city's serious air pollution problems.
Two BYD electric single decker buses have been operational in the capital for 2 years…and a further 50 are on order, however with 6.5 million passengers relying on the bus each day, the double decker is more efficient for passenger numbers.
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The bus looks like any other new bus…..carrying 81 passengers for 190 miles before the battery will need to be recharged, a process that will take 4 hours.
Until new technology was developed by BYD to make the battery more compact, it was thought a fully electric double-decker was unfeasible. Mike Weston is director of Buses for the city's transport authority….Transport for London.
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BYD buses, taxis and limousines can be found around across Asia and the Chinese company has been making big inroads into the European market where its buses can be found in Sweden, Spain Denmark and the netherlands , amongst others.
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Isbrand Ho is managing director of BYD auto in Europe. He says this model is a significant development.
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The five all electric double decker buses will be put into service soon, with hopes that others, to be made in the UK, could follow soon. Neither BYD or Transport for London would disclose the price of the buses…. however both were keen to highlight that the electric buses can save about 70 per cent of the costs of fuel, producing long-term savings.
And while other automakers are trying to get in on the green market, as cities everywhere seek to tackle air pollution, BYD has the advantage of being the first to roll out an all electric zero emissions double decker bus.
Catherine Drew, sign off , London