Transportation for London (TFL) has commissioned China-based automobile maker BYD Company to replace the city's famous red double-decker buses with battery-powered electric versions.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: "Many believed that a pure electric double-decker bus would not be possible due to the size of the battery packs required to power it.
"However by working with BYD and utilizing the latest cutting edge technology London has been able to secure another world first. The new electric double-decker trial will see the zero emission double-decker buses manufactured by BYD enter service on Route 16 from October."
BYD's battery electric bus draws upon iron-phosphate battery that makes it possible to drive over 155 miles in a single charging, even when heavy traffic hits city arteries.
Claiming to demonstrate the lowest life cycle cost of ownership, the vehicles are armed with proprietary in-wheel hub motors and regenerative braking system. Adding to environmental benefits, the engine of the bus claims to eliminate the jerks or noise related to conventional ones.
Over 150 cities across 36 countries have evaluated the BYD buses, 5,000 with produced by the company so far.
BYD European operations - managing director Isbrand Ho said: "We are delighted to be chosen by London as its partner for the world debut of our new pure electric double-decker. As the Mayor has said, this is genuinely world beating new technology.
"Since BYD is by far the world's largest maker of zero emission pure electric buses and as such is keen to promote their take up and use as quickly as possible we are also pleased to have today supported the Declaration and pledged BYD to helping promote zero - not just ultra low - emission vehicles on the streets of the world's major cities."
