Welcome to the Certificates Hub. On this page you'll find the full range of zero and low emission certified buses, coaches and minibuses, accredited by Zemo Partnership. Please use the + buttons on the right to expand each of the following sections for further information on vehicle testing and accreditation schemes.
- Why do we test and accredit buses?
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For over 15 years, Zemo Partnership has certified vehicles following independent physical testing to ensure public money supports proven low and zero emission vehicle technologies that will perform in service. Certificates enable local authorities and bus operators to understand expected performance including drivetrain efficiency, regulated tailpipe emissions and WTW GHG emissions ahead of deployment. The certificates also provide an independent means for operators to compare different suppliers and technologies on a like-for-like basis. This page displays vehicle models which are certified as Low, Ultra-Low and Zero emission buses by Zemo Partnership and that qualify for funding schemes and incentives in the UK.
Further information on Grants and Incentives
WTW GHG emissions are calculated through addition of well-to-tank emissions and measured tailpipe or (tank-to-wheel) emissions. 'Well-to-Wheel' (WTW) is a value that includes all the emissions involved in the process of extraction/creation, processing and use of a fuel in a vehicle to gauge the total carbon impact of that fuel. 'Well-to-Tank' (WTT) only includes all the emissions associated with a fuel up to the point that it enters a vehicle's fuel tank or energy storage device (i.e. excludes tailpipe emissions).
The combined well-to-wheel greenhouse gas emissions are compared with a the baseline performance of a diesel bus of equivalent passenger capacity. Zemo updates certificates each year on the 1st February with new emission factors for grid electricity and hydrogen. This is sourced from the ‘Government conversion factors for company reporting of greenhouse gas emissions’. and Zemo calculated values.
Further information on Well-to-Tank
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Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) Accreditation Scheme
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Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) accreditation is required to ensure public money supports proven technologies that will perform in service. Certificates enable local authorities and bus operators to have an understanding in advance of the expected performance and compare different suppliers and technologies.
To achieve accreditation and certification, vehicles must:
- have no combustion engines on-board (including diesel heaters);
- produce no regulated emissions from the tailpipe(s);
- achieve a 50% well-to-wheel greenhouse gas saving compared to a conventional Euro VI diesel over the UK Bus Cycle (UKBC).
Once a manufacturer or vehicle supplier has demonstrated a bus model achieves the ZEB standard, Zemo Partnership and the Department for Transport review the certificate and publish it below along with highlights of the vehicle's specifications and performance.
ZEB manufacturers and suppliers can then provide operators / local authorities with the ZEB test certificates and vehicle summary sheets, which can be used to claim UK Government funding, such as Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) and the BSOG 22p/km ZEB Uplift in England. The certification has also been adopted by Transport Scotland for the Scottish Zero Emission (ScotZEB) Challenge Fund Scheme .
For further information on ZEB Accreditation and UK Bus Cycle (UKBC) testing please contact us at hello@zemo.org.uk.
- Ultra-Low Emission Bus (ULEB) Accreditation Scheme
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Ultra-Low Emission Bus (ULEB) accreditation has now been superseded by Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) certification. Buses that are ULEB certified and meet the Zero Emission Bus definition have automatically been certified as Zero Emission Buses.
The Ultra-Low Emission Bus (ULEB) certification scheme was developed to approve models to receive funding from the Department for Transport's £48m Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme (now closed). The scheme was also adopted by the Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme (SULEBS).
ULEB accreditation was required to ensure public money supported proven technologies that will perform in service. Certificates enabled local authorities and bus operators to receive government funding under the ULEB scheme.
To achieve accreditation and be awarded a certificate, manufacturers need to achieve:
- a 30% well-to-wheel greenhouse gas saving compared to a conventional Euro VI diesel over the UK Bus Cycle (UKBC).
Once a manufacturer has proven that a model achieves the ULEB standard, Zemo Partnership and DfT review the certificate and publish it below along with highlights of the vehicle's performance. ULEB accredited vehicles still qualify for the BSOG 6p/km Low Carbon Emission Bus Incentive today.
- Low Emission Bus (LEB) Accreditation Scheme
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The Low Emission Bus (LEB) accreditation scheme was developed to approve models to receive funding from the Department for Transport's £30m Low Emission Bus Scheme (now closed). The LEB accreditation scheme became the approval process for qualifying different low emission bus models for Government fiscal incentives both in England and Scotland, such as the BSOG 6p/km Low Carbon Emission Bus Incentive and the Scottish Green Bus Fund (Rounds 6 & 7).
LEB accreditation was required to ensure public money supported proven technologies that will perform in service. Certificates enabled local authorities and bus operators to receive government funding under the LEB scheme.
To achieve accreditation and be awarded a certificate, manufacturers need to achieve:
- a 15% well-to-wheel greenhouse gas saving compared to a conventional Euro V diesel over the LowCVP UK Bus (LUB) Test Cycle.
Once a manufacturer has proven that a model achieves the LEB standard, Zemo Partnership and DfT review the certificate and publish it below along with highlights of the vehicle's performance. LEB accredited vehicles still qualify for the BSOG 6p/km Low Carbon Emission Bus Incentive today.
Low Carbon Emission Bus (LCEB) Accreditation Scheme
In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions arising from buses, the Department for Transport and Transport Scotland introduced fiscal incentives to stimulate the take-up of ‘Low Carbon Emission Buses’. The incentives included the Green Bus Fund, Scottish Green Bus Fund and the BSOG 6p/km Low Carbon Emission Bus Incentive. The definition of a Low Carbon Emission Bus was:
- 'A Low Carbon Emission Bus (LCEB) is one that achieves more than 30% Well-To-Wheel greenhouse gas emissions savings compared to an equivalent Euro III diesel bus of similar passenger capacity.'
The LCEB Accreditation Scheme was replaced by the Low Emission Bus (LEB) Accreditation Scheme in 2015.
Use the filter bar below to sort and view Zemo Partnership certified vehicles.