ADL unveils vision to sustain air quality improvements in UK towns and cities with 10,000 clean buses
Alexander Dennis Limited (“ADL”), a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. (“NFI”), one of the world’s largest independent global bus manufacturers, today announced a vision for the transformation of buses in the United Kingdom which could see at least 10,000 new low, ultra-low and zero-emission buses in service within the next 4 years, the first of them hitting the road before the end of the year to maintain the benefits of lower pollution and better air quality towns and cities have experienced during the coronavirus lockdown.
- ADL proposes to maintain the benefits of lower pollution and better air quality when the UK’s economy restarts
- At least 10,000 new, UK-built low, ultra low and zero emission buses could be in service within the next 4 years
- This deliverable proposal would have immediate benefits before the end of the year, cutting out emissions with electric operation on UK high streets, near schools and at hospitals
- These new clean buses could remove ageing diesel vehicles or boost capacity to enable social distancing
- ADL urges the UK Government and devolved administrations to speed up the transition to cleaner transport
- UK bus manufacturing keeps investment in the country and opens up exporting opportunities for Global Britain
The coronavirus lockdown has shown the liveability of towns and cities free from the chokehold of traffic congestion dominated by cars, as traffic volumes have diminished while people stayed at home to protect the NHS and save lives. With over 60% of UK road transport emissions in normal times caused by cars – compared with under 3% caused by buses – the result has been a stark improvement in air quality.
“There is strong public support for locking in these benefits through and beyond the post-coronavirus recovery to keep a healthier environment and continue the fight against climate change,” says Colin Robertson, Chief Executive of Britain’s largest bus builder, ADL.
“Along with active travel and other modes of public transport, buses are a crucial part of the solution. As a society, we need to act immediately and deliver benefits as quickly as possible to minimise the deterioration of air quality when the economy restarts.”
At least 10,000 new UK-built low, ultra-low and zero-emission buses could be in service within the next four years. Combining different available technologies results in a highly deliverable proposal with immediate benefits.
Brand new low and ultra-low emission buses could be ready before the end of the year to take older buses with aging diesel engines off the streets or to offer additional capacity to facilitate social distancing. These ultra-low-emission buses could bring self-charged zero-emission electric range capability – completely cutting out emissions on high streets, near schools, or at hospitals – without losing time to infrastructure planning and installation.
Work could begin in parallel to plan and develop the infrastructure for zero-emission buses, with battery electric buses available in volume supported by proven expertise in rolling out fleets. Hydrogen buses will play a role for routes requiring additional range and they will be ready when a fuelling infrastructure and a sustainable supply of green hydrogen have been put in place.
10,000 buses over four years would represent a return to the healthy levels of investment in a modern bus fleet which had been seen until the impact of previous governments’ cuts were felt in the last years. UK bus manufacturers including ADL have the production capacity to meet this demand. Further investment to speed up the decarbonisation of transport could create additional highly skilled jobs in a world-class industry.
Colin Robertson says: “The UK Government’s earlier £5bn pledge for buses and cycling recognises the need to invest in active and sustainable models of travel. This is now more imperative than ever as the economy emerges from the impact of coronavirus.
“We urge the UK Government and devolved administrations to speed up the transition to cleaner transport by accelerating the funding earmarked for zero-emission buses and assuring health benefits from an immediate positive impact on air quality can be delivered by low and ultra-low emission buses that could be in service before the end of this year.”
Clean, spacious and well-equipped buses would also serve to reassure passengers of a safe journey – with social distancing as required – to places of work, high streets, shopping centres, and leisure activities, helping the economic recovery of the nation.
As the UK’s largest bus manufacturer, ADL is ready to rapidly deliver the required low, ultra-low, and zero-emission buses. Employing 2,500 staff in the UK and supporting a further 12,500 jobs in the broader supply chain, ADL’s UK production capacity of over 1,500 buses per year could be increased to provide the benefits of cleaner buses on a wide scale.
ADL offers the widest range of technology solutions on the market including low emission buses, ultra-low emission electric range hybrids, and zero-emission battery as well as hydrogen fuel cell buses.
Colin Robertson explains: “We are supportive of all cutting edge clean bus technologies and recognise that one size does not fit all, which is why we have developed a choice of solutions which meet cities and operators’ individual requirements and priorities – whether that is air quality targets, carbon reduction, interior layouts, acquisition costs, total cost of ownership, or a blend of all of these.
“We have invested tens of millions in innovation – our solutions are road-ready to be delivered at scale with the reassurance that they will perform as required.”
Bus manufacturing represents more than 10% of the UK’s motor industry employment total and bus manufacturers meet more than three-quarters of domestic demand, keeping investment in the country. UK bus manufacturing is globally recognised for its innovation in low and zero-emission bus technologies, energy-efficient design and passenger amenities. A healthy home market is crucial to a vibrant UK bus manufacturing industry as it enables it to export its world-class products and grasp significant opportunities for Global Britain.
“ADL has a proud history of working with the industry, not just for the industry but for the nation,” says ADL Chief Executive Colin Robertson.
“We have shared these proposals with senior ministers in the UK and Scottish Governments to show how our industry can lead to post-coronavirus economic recovery to deliver health benefits for the entire country. The realisation of our proposals can begin immediately, and they could be scaled up in size and ambition to match councils’ and governments’ decarbonisation targets. We are ready to deliver for the nation.”
- 10,000 new clean buses over 4 years would approach normal levels of investment. UK operators historically registered between 2,500 and 3,000 new buses per year, although in the last two years this fell to under 2,000 buses due to the impact of previous governments’ cuts to support and socially necessary services.
- Over three-quarters of UK demand for buses is met by domestic manufacturers, including ADL, keeping investment in the country.
- UK bus services require specific vehicle types such as double-deckers which are uncommon in other countries and therefore not generally offered by international suppliers. A healthy and vibrant domestic bus manufacturing industry is crucial to prevent a dependence on unsuitable, imported products.
- The UK bus manufacturing industry has been at the forefront of bringing efficient and cost-effective low, ultra-low and zero-emission bus technologies to market, often ahead of their development and deployment in other countries.
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