LowCVP launches Low Emission Bus website
Fri 29 May 2015
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The LowCVP has launched a new Low Emission Bus section on its website to help disseminate information on the Office for Low Emission Vehicle’s (OLEV) Low Emission Bus Scheme. The site provides details of guidance, funding eligibility and the definition of a Low Emission Bus (LEB). The LEB scheme is designed to help bus operators and local authorities source the cleanest bus technologies and stimulate the low and ultra-low emission bus markets.
£30m has been set aside to encourage the adoption of low emission buses from OLEV’s £500m budget which is dedicated to cutting the carbon contribution of road transport to the UK’s legally binding carbon budget. The scheme supersedes the Green Bus Fund which has resulted in over 2,000 Low Carbon Emission Buses coming into service in the UK.
A LEB must have a Euro 6 certified engine emission levels and produce at least 15% less greenhouse gas emissions on a well-to-wheel (WTW) basis than a Euro 5 bus of the same passenger capacity. WTW incorporates the emissions associated with the production and transportation of the fuel as well as those released from the exhaust of a vehicle.
Over the last six months the LowCVP has played an integral role in assisting both OLEV and the DfT in shaping and delivering the Low Emission Bus Scheme. Through collaboration with LowCVP's Bus Working Group, this work built on feedback from the market and included a Low Emission Bus definition, creating a Low Emission Bus accreditation procedure, a new test cycle and an innovative grant mechanism which rewards increased GHG savings.
One of the most recent activities has been overseeing the new vehicle emission testing procedures associated with Low Emission Bus accreditation scheme, and preparing written testing protocols.The website provides further clarity on this testing and accreditation, along with relevant bus technologies and a number of other helpful tools to be added such as map detailing all the LEBs in service across the UK once they have come into operation (similar to the LCEB map).
At the time of publishing, bus manufacturers are currently testing vehicles and awaiting certification. Once this has been confirmed by the Department for Transport and the LowCVP-accredited vehicles and technologies will be listed on the website.
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