Campaign for Better Transport is calling for more to be done to deliver a zero-emission bus fleet as figures reveal only a small proportion of buses on the UK’s roads are currently electric.
Of the 38,000 buses nationally, only 12% of the fleet are hybrid and only 2% per cent (4% in London and 1% in the rest of England) are fully electric according to the charity’s findings.
It stresses that without further government support, the ambition to deliver 4,000 zero-emission buses by 2025, as well as plans to clean up the rest of the 38,000 strong bus fleet, are likely to be missed.
Campaign for Better Transport is calling for a number of measures to help speed up the transition to zero-emissions, including more incentives for local authorities and a government-led campaign to boost bus passenger numbers. It also wants to see a long-term funding plan and for local authorities to adopt more bus friendly policies.
According to the charity, since the government’s commitment in February 2020 to deliver 4,000 zero-emission buses, only around 50 -100 are on the road. Together with the ZEBRA and All Electric Bus Town schemes, government funding for up to 900 has so far been made available. The charity added this leaves the question of how the remaining 3,100 of the government’s commitment will be delivered? And when will the remaining 34,000 buses on the roads shift to zero emission?
Paul Tuohy, chief executive of Campaign for Better Transport, said: “Buses are already one of the greenest forms of transport – contributing only 3% of the UK’s domestic transport emissions – and accelerating the roll-out of zero-emission buses will drive further improvements to air quality and carbon emissions in our towns, cities and rural areas.
“But it’s clear from our work with bus operators, local authorities, utility companies and others involved in providing bus services that we are not currently on target to deliver nearly enough zero-emission buses anywhere near fast enough. Government must step in to offer more support to the industry in the long term and do more to boost passenger number in the short term.”
Bus operator Go-Ahead Group is also urging local authorities to introduce revenue-raising schemes that would both encourage a shift to public transport and help fund decarbonisation.
Martin Dean, managing director business development, Go-Ahead, added: “Local authorities must find local solutions to protect residents from congestion and pollution, using a range of measures such as congestion charging and workplace parking levies. These can speed up buses, making them more attractive to use, whilst also creating more space for walking and cycling. The revenue from such schemes can also help fund the transition to zero-emission.”
