London transport has just taken a step into the future of travel after a fleet of 20 new electric buses was launched.
You would be excused for thinking that south London has got new trams after seeing the new electric vehicles rolled out by TfL today.
They resemble the tram-like trolleybuses which were a familiar sight on London roads until they were phased out by the 1960s.
But no, TfL hasn’t suddenly expanded the tram network which still connects four south London boroughs. Instead, it has now rolled out the long-waited chargeable electric buses serving route 358.
The fleet of 20 buses charged by pantographs started running between Crystal Palace and Orpington in southeast London today – a 15-mile journey.
The battery-powered red vehicles represent the latest technology for buses – pantograph charging.
They can be charged by the arm-like structure attached to the bus roof in as little as six minutes.
This stops the buses from having to go back to garages to recharge which means fewer buses are needed to serve a route.
Along with improved seats, USB charging ports and anti-slip floors, the new generation buses boast several features designed to make them safer.
The wheels look different to other London buses. The electric fleet has covered wheels designed to stop pedestrians and cyclists from being dragged underneath in a crash.
They also feature speed limits, and audible warnings to alert pedestrians and other road users of bus movements, while drivers rely on cameras and monitors instead of mirrors.
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TfL said they have a ‘safer’ front.
If everything goes well, London could see more of these buses in the future as route 358 is part of a trial.
The capital now boasts more than 1,700 zero-emission buses – the largest fleet in western Europe.
The new pantograph fleet is part of achieving London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s Vision Zero goal to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries on London roads.
Supplied by the Spanish company Irizar, the newest additions are part of the City Hall goal of transitioning to a fully zero-emission fleet by 2030.
Ben Curtis, the head of external affairs at Campaign for Better Transport, said: ‘Buses are our most used form of sustainable transport and bus electrification is key to cutting road emissions and cleaning our air.
‘It’s fantastic to see how innovative technology like pantograph charging can be used to keep TfL buses green and efficient and support operation on longer routes on the network.’
The pantograph system was first trialled at a Bexleyheath garage in 2022 to test the longer-range tech across the network.
Lorna Murphy, director of buses at TfL, said: ‘Installing new rapid-charging pantograph infrastructure on one of London’s longest bus routes is an innovative step forward, helping us to run cleaner, greener services that get Londoners where they need to be.
‘Working with partners across a range of different sectors on this project, we are showcasing how the broader shift to net zero can be achieved.
‘The move to increase the number of zero-emission buses on the capital’s streets is a key part of the Mayor’s goal to make London a zero-carbon city.’
There will be some changes to Orpington bus station and stops to support the new layout and pantograph charging.
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