London’s Iconic Double Decker Bus Goes Green
by Jorge Chapa, 10/02/07
We’re all familiar with London’s iconic Double Decker buses, which have been a part of the British transportation system and pop culture for the better part of the last 50 years. And now those iconic buses are going from red to green, turning to hybrid diesel-electric engines.
As part of the Mayor of London’s plan for an increased reliance on energy efficient vehicles to power the city’s transport infrastructure, Transport for London, the British agency responsible for public transportation, has introduced one hybrid bus across route 141. The current hybrid bus is powered by a hybrid diesel-electric engine. Thanks to the mixture of both systems, the bus is able to cover the same distance range as a conventional diesel bus. All the hybrid buses will be marked with a leafy insignia to better communicate to the passengers that they are indeed traveling on an environmentally friendly bus. Here’s hoping that the rest of London, and other cities in the world follow this lead.
“This is a world-first for London marking our commitment to a cleaner, greener public transport network.” said Mayor Ken Livigstone.
+World’s first double-decker hybrid bus goes into service in London
ONE bus?! Wow, that’s going to put a big dent in London’s carbon footprint…
Besides, Newcastle has had all of the busses on it’s new Quayside routes as hybrids for a good couple of years now…
Still, if London make the switch fully it’ll make a difference. Not that I think that they will – they’ve only recently replaced all of the London buses because the old Routemasters didn’t drop to allow wheelchairs and buggies on. Here’s hoping anyway!