London further electrifies

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced 68 new zero-emission electric double-deckers will join London’s fleet next summer. The new buses are to be manufactured by the BYD/ADL partnership and Optare. It is thought this will be the largest double-decker electric bus fleet in Europe.

They are to be used on two routes run by Metroline from Barnet to central London, making them exclusively operated by electric double-deckers.

Optare is to supply 31 all-electric Metrodecker EV double deckers for TfL Route 134, running from North Finchley bus station to Tottenham Court Road. The manufacturer claims the bus will carry over 90 passengers with a range of over 150 miles on a single charge. This announcement follows the news of the first order for Metrodecker Euro VI buses. Some 37 BYD ADL Enviro400EV buses are to enter service with Metroline in the second quarter of 2019. They will be used on route 43, between Friern Barnet and London Bridge Station. The 10.9m long electric double deckers will feature ADL’s eye-catching City style bodywork with a glazed staircase.

They will use BYD’s Iron-Phosphate battery technology, which the manufacturers claim enables the buses to run all day on a single charge using off-peak electricity.