10.03.20
First electric open-top double decker bus arrives in Oxford
The city of Oxford has propelled its efforts in reducing air pollution with its first electric open-top double decker bus which arrived in Oxford yesterday (Mar 9).
It comes ahead of the Oxford Zero Emission Zone, and is the first of five open-top City Sightseeing Oxford buses currently being retrofitted to be more environmentally friendly.
The sightseeing buses employ a hop-on, hop-off approach to learning about the city, with guides talking people through the best tourist attractions the city has to offer. The on-bus commentaries come in 13 different languages to assist with the one-hour tours.
Funding for the retrofits was provided to the council by the Government’s Clean Bus Technology Fund. It came in February 2018, when £1.7m was awarded to retrofit 78 buses to the ultra-low emission standard and convert five open-top double decker buses to electric.
Since that time, more funding has been secured by the council including a further £700,000 in March 2019 to transform a further 37 city buses, bringing the total to 115 – of which 65, operated by the Oxford Bus Company, have already undergone the switch.
In Oxford, 75% of all nitrogen dioxide pollution comes from transport and 50 tonnes of CO2 are released by road traffic every morning during peak times.
Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council have launched a consultation on their plans to create the UK’s first city centre zero emission zone, aiming to launch in December 2020.
Through collaboration with bus operating companies, the councils are aiming to move towards zero emissions by 2035, but would like to bring that date forward to 2030 if possible.
Councillor Tom Hayes, Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford
“I am thrilled that Oxford’s first electric open-top double decker bus has arrived in Oxford. 2020 is the year that we will see the start of the Oxford Zero Emission Zone - the UK’s first city centre Zero Emission Zone.
“I am delighted by working together with Oxford Bus Company; we are able to introduce a more sustainable bus fleet to Oxford. Cleaner buses mean that we will have cleaner air and improved health for everyone living, working, and commuting in the city. I am looking forward to seeing more electric buses on the roads of Oxford in the future.”