New additions make TfL's electric bus fleet largest in Europe

London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan announced that two of London's bus routes are becoming exclusively electric, making the city’s electric bus fleet the largest in Europe. 

In the latest measure by the Mayor to tackle the twin dangers of the climate emergency and the air quality health crisis, two bus routes will become the UK's first to use only electric double-deck buses, beginning this fall. London currently has more than 200 electric buses, making it Europe's largest electric bus fleet, and this will grow significantly next year as Transport for London (TfL) has awarded contracts to suppliers for an additional 78 electric double-deck buses.

The new zero-emission buses on the two routes are not only helping to reduce carbon emissions and improve the air for all Londoners but are also improving the customer experience on buses, because the journey is smoother and quieter than on buses with a traditional engine. Customers will have access to free-to-use USB charging points.

The Mayor also confirmed that Low Emission Bus Zones at Chiswick High Road and Uxbridge Road have now been completed, which means that TfL has delivered all 12 Low Emission Bus Zones earlier than planned — the Mayor's previous target was 2020. As a result of the zones, Londoners who were exposed to some of the highest levels of dangerous nitrogen dioxide pollution are now benefiting from an average 90% drop in bus-related NOx emissions.