Under London and Bogotá’s leadership, 24 cities have committed to buying 40,000 clean buses from now until 2020, proving the potential size of this growing market.
London and Bogotá have joined forces in an effort to propel the hybrid bus market to the next level. Although cities are increasingly buying ultra-low emission buses, such as electric, hydrogen, and hybrid buses, by 2014 there had been no corresponding reduction in price as sales increased. Discussions with manufacturers made clear that this was because of a perceived lack of commitment to new technologies by a large enough number of cities. By getting 24 cities on board the Clean Bus Declaration, this cross-city initiative is able to prove to manufacturers and industry stakeholders that public transit systems around the world are ready for a change. If signatory cities reach their collective goal of 40,000 clean buses by 2020, the project will save 880,528 tons of CO2 annually.
London has committed $510 million so that by 2020, all 300 single-deck buses in central London will be zero emission capable and all 3,000 double-deck buses will be hybrid. In Bogotá, the aim is for the existing fleet of 1,200 diesel buses to be replaced with hybrid or electric models by 2020. These efforts are already paying off: since the program launched in March 2015, the average price for a hybrid bus has already declined by 10%.
32% CO2 saved each year by 2020 compared to the “do nothing” scenario
The challenge
The transport sector accounts for 27% of the world’s energy use, and baseline CO2 emissions could almost double by 2050 if no steps towards low-emission transportation are taken. This large-scale collaboration aims to transform the urban transportation industry and create new standards of sustainability around the world.
Co-benefits
Economic In London, the ultra-low emission vehicle sector generates $2 billion in sales, supporting nearly 600 companies across the supply chain and around 9,000 jobs.
Health The project hopes to save up to 58,104 metric tons of NOx by 2020, equivalent to a quarter of bus NOx emissions from the signatory cities.
Social In London, disadvantaged communities and minority populations are more exposed to unhealthy exhaust fumes. Deploying cleaner buses will provide a cleaner environment for all citizens.
About London
London is the capital and most populous city of England and the United Kingdom. Standing on the River Thames in the south east of the island of Great Britain, London has been a major settlement for two millennia. London is a leading global city and is crowned as the world’s largest financial centre and has the fifth- or sixth-largest metropolitan area GDP in the world. London is a world cultural capital and is the world’s most-visited city as measured by international arrivals. London has a diverse range of people and cultures, and more than 300 languages are spoken in the region. London contains four World Heritage Sites and The London Underground is the oldest underground railway network in the world.
About Bogotá
Bogotá is the capital and largest city of Colombia administered as the Capital District. The city is located in the center of Colombia, on a high plateau known as the Bogotá savanna and is the political, economic, administrative, industrial, artistic, cultural, and sports center of the country. The city’s airport, El Dorado International Airport, named after the mythical El Dorado, handles the largest cargo volume in Latin America, and is third in number of people.
