Councils urged to apply for clean bus fund

Local authorities have been urged to ensure that they meet the deadline for funding from the government’s £30 million grant scheme to reduce emissions from the UK’s bus fleet.

The Clean Bus Technology Fund is open for applications until 17 November, with an initial funding start date of 5 January 2018.

Retrofit systems can be used to reduce emissions from vehicles including buses

Funding will be used to retrofit buses with technology to bring them in line with strict emissions standards, in a bid to improve air quality in towns and cities.

A recent report by the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership LowCVP has suggested that technologies such as selective catalytic reduction or electric powertrains are likely to be the most effective at reducing emissions of harmful nitrogen oxides (see airqualitynews.com story).

LowCVP assessed findings from trials in over 25 local authority projects, involving five vehicle types and over seven technologies, analysing a range of vehicle testing data, before and after retrofit equipment was fitted and when in service.

Eminox

UK-based emission reduction specialist Eminox has become the first company approved for the CVRAS with its SCR technology. According to Eminox, the SCR technology can reduce NOx and NO2 by 99%, and particulate matter by 95%, resulting in emissions equivalent to Euro VI.

Commenting on the looming deadline for the Clean Bus Fund, Eminox International Business Development Manager Carlos Vicente, said: “Eminox has developed near zero emission technology in our SCRT, which can significantly reduce pollution from existing heavy duty vehicles, such as buses, as well as consistently monitor its performance in real time data.

“When looking at how to reduce air pollution in cities, retrofitting heavy-duty vehicles is the most viable solution.

“Retrofitting existing buses with new exhausts will help significantly reduce not just roadside NO2, but also Particulate Matter, which is far more harmful to the population.

“Our telematics solution, with its real world performance data, gives reassurance that it is continuing to reduce emissions in urban environments, where it can really make a difference, whilst assuring the governments funding is being utilised to deliver the best value for money.”