{"id":47514,"date":"2024-07-23T11:00:04","date_gmt":"2024-07-23T10:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/?p=47514"},"modified":"2024-07-23T11:07:42","modified_gmt":"2024-07-23T10:07:42","slug":"how-electric-buses-can-decrease-urban-emissions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/how-electric-buses-can-decrease-urban-emissions\/47514\/","title":{"rendered":"How electric buses can decrease urban emissions and propel us to a sustainable future"},"content":{"rendered":"
The transportation industry is under intense pressure to implement emission-free alternatives in light of climate change and urban pollution.<\/p>\n
There are 1.56 billion automobiles on the road, 16% of which are commercial, accounting for 40% of total road emissions<\/a>, making the electrification of commercial fleets crucial in our pursuit of a sustainable future.<\/p>\n The electrification of buses has made good headway in recent years. With predictable trips, eBuses are excellent for decarbonising public transit while providing cleaner, quieter, and more pleasant transportation for the consumer.<\/p>\n The zero-emission buses (ZEB) movement has grown rapidly in recent years, starting with major cities like London successfully deploying and demonstrating the benefits.<\/p>\n There is now a growing demand across the UK as operators realise the benefits electric buses can contribute to their community.<\/p>\n In March 2024, Warrington Council unveiled its new 105-bus strong fleet. From this summer, it will replace Warrington’s Own Buses’ entire diesel range, providing quieter and cleaner transport for the town’s residents.<\/p>\n Projects like this are complex and costly and only possible with a combination of government support and funding as well as the right technology partners.<\/p>\n The bus sector still faces significant and varied challenges, and to overcome these barriers, we need to see concerted efforts from policymakers, coupled with technological innovations like EV load management – crucial for facilitating the widespread adoption of electric buses and advancing towards a sustainable future.<\/p>\n As exemplified here, the challenges are varied and complex, but we stand to make good headway with emerging technological developments and a willingness to change. However, policymakers are required to support the growth of bus electrification.<\/p>\n There are several ways that the bus sector could benefit from the additional support of policymakers, some of which the government is already considering.<\/p>\n There are several initiatives that have proved to be successful and could be expanded, including the Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme (ULEB) and the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA)<\/a> scheme.<\/p>\n The second round of ZEBRA funding awards was announced in March, which made \u00a3143m available for transition to zero-emission buses, with battery electric projects being the majority.<\/p>\n A key area that needs to be addressed is the high upfront costs associated with EV fleet electrification. Increasing funding and incentives such as grants and tax breaks will make the move to zero-emission fleets more accessible to operators.<\/p>\n Furthermore, the government could consider creating key partnerships with financial institutions to provide financing solutions like low-interest loans customised to bus operators’ requirements.<\/p>\n The government also has a role to play in integrating rapid charging stations that cater specifically to commercial vehicles, such as fleets, buses, and coaches.<\/p>\nBarriers to eBus adoption<\/h3>\n
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Push for stronger support from policymakers<\/h3>\n