Arriva to electrify Whitehall Road bus depot
Arriva will operate the new fleet of 109 electric buses from the Whitehall Road bus depot following the installation of 5 km worth of high-voltage cables for the new electricity infrastructure from UK Power Networks. The new charging infrastructure was funded, fast-tracked and built through UK Power Networks’ Green Recovery Fund.
According to the company’s statements, UK Power Networks delivers power to 19 million people across London, the South East and East of England, and has now delivered a new 4.5-megawatt power connection to charge the electric buses. The buses themselves will be driven on the routes 64, 612, 50, 194, 250, 255, 289, 689, 663 and related night routes.
“This investment is a watershed for Thornton Heath bus garage, which can now electrify its bus fleet and usher in a new age of cleaner, greener electric public transport,” said Adam Lakey, leading the Green Recovery projects for UK Power Networks, adding: “Our Green Recovery programme has delivered essential new power infrastructure to bus fleets, motorway service areas and rapid charging hubs to connect more electric vehicles and accelerate the country’s transition to net zero carbon emissions.”
“London’s red buses are iconic and the fleet is one of the greenest in the world, with lower CO2 emissions per passenger kilometres compared to other global cities like New York, Paris and Vancouver. With more than 1,500 zero emission vehicles on London’s roads, our programme of decarbonising the capital’s buses is playing a crucial role in the journey to Net Zero,” added Nick Owen, director of buses at TfL.
Arriva is operational all across Europe, and recently added 16 electric buses to its fleet in the Czech Republic, and ordered a fleet of 51 electric double-decker buses from Volvo in July.
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