The DfT has introduced several new policies to encourage the uptake of Low Emission Buses in England and Wales, implemented through the Low Emission Bus Scheme and previously through the Bus Service Operators Grant.
Low Emission Bus (LEB) Scheme
In 2015 OLEV announced a £500m funding package to support the take up of ultra-low emission vehicles in the UK covering the period 2015 to 2020. £30m has been allocated to the Low Emission Buses Scheme. This new scheme will be run as a competition, for local authorities and transport operators in England and Wales, through a competitive bidding process.
The Low Emission Bus Scheme is now open for applications via the DfT website, with the grant call submission deadline of 31st October 2015. OLEV has produced a guidance document for bidder.
An LEB application form along with and accompanying grant calculator that must be used in any application to the LEB scheme can also be downloaded from the Department for Transport's Low Emission Bus Scheme page.
Bus Service Operators Grant LCEB Incentive
The Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) was formed in April 2009 to encourage improvements in fleet fuel efficiency and provide a level playing field for low carbon emission buses. The LowCVP worked in partnership with DfT to introduce the Low Carbon Emission Bus incentive. The incentive enables bus operator to receive an additional payment of six pence for each kilometre they operate with a low carbon emission bus.
- Accredited Low Carbon Emission Buses
It should be noted that bus manufacturers still seeking to claim the BSOG LCEB incentive should test their bus under the new LowCVP UK Bus Test Cycle and extract the Millbrook London Transport Bus (MLTB) data required for LCEB approval.