Guide to the Alternative

London’s setting the trend for alternatives in the UK. It’s quite a revolution, no less important than the super low floor bus.

 2003 – TfL announces it would use London Central’s route 360 to test hybrids.

 2004 – trials under CUTE (clean urban transport for Europe) of three Mercedes Citaro hydrogen fuel cell buses begin.

 Feb 2006 – six Wright Electrocity trials begin with London Central on 360, alongside conventional Darts. Vehicles exhibit some weaknesses. Electrocities replace no-show Enviro 200Hs following Transbus collapse.

 Mar 2006 – mayor of London announces possibility of a large hybrid order to the manufacturer who can make them cheaply and successfully.

 Nov 2006 – EuroBus Expo 2006 sees hybrids from Wright (a decker) and Volvo (single deck). ADL and Optare express an interest in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), though there are no plans for a double deck, other than at Volvo.

 Feb 2007 – hydrogen bus trials end. Results awaited.

 March 2007 – first of ten double deck in modern hybrid service on 15 March. It was DAF DB250/Wright Pulsar Gemini, on Arriva TfL route 141. Remainder expected by the end of 2007 (four more to Arriva, five to First). See also comment here.

 2007 – Transdev London due to commence trials of ethanol fuelled Scania OmniCity. Scania is the only manufacturer with ethanol fuelled buses under trial.

 2007 – Optare Tempo hybrid due, using GM Allison’s new parallel hybrid transmission, already used in some 500 units in north America.

 Early 2008 – first of six Volvo B9L/Wright double deck London HEVs (remainder expected in 2009).

 2008 – 10 hydrogen powered single decks promised for London (manufacturer details not released).

 End 2008 – possibly up to 60 HEVs to enter London service.

 2012 – total of 900 HEVs expected in London service by this date, with up to 500 per annum delivered thereafter.

 2012 – fuel cell buses in quantity a possibility at or after this date.