Minutes:
John Colgan, (Business Development Manager/Buses) from TfL attended to present to the Committee.
The presentation was concerning the trial of the proposed electrification of the 358 bus route from Orpington to Crystal Palace. This was being trialled in an attempt to begin to address issues of air quality and TfL's carbon footprint. Mr Colgan informed the Committee that the journey quality for passengers would be improved, with less noise, less juddering and with onboard charging points for the convenience of passengers. The new buses would have very high safety specifications.
Members were briefed concerning the various technologies that could be utilised to bring about the electrification of the route. TfL had considered that the use of ‘opportunity charging’ with pantographs seemed to be the best option to progress the project.
It was currently estimated that in achieving an entirely zero emission bus fleet, approximately 80-85% of TfL’s bus routes would use garage-charged electric buses, with the remaining 15-20% running off hydrogen and/or using some form of opportunity charging. The use of hydrogen was expensive and required a different infrastructure.
An explanation was provided as to how the ‘opportunity charging’ option would work. It was noted that this was a single decker route because of the low bridge near Shortlands train station. It was explained that the technology worked off a pantograph charger which connected to the bus and which derived its electric power from the national grid.
Mr Colgan stated that the new electric buses would be operated by ‘Go Ahead’ and would have the highest safety specifications of any buses in London. The buses and the accompanying equipment would all be made in Spain as a single integrated package. Members asked if there was not a British company that could be used, but apparently this was not the case. A Member asked if the possibility of the batteries being provided by a British company had been looked at. Mr Colgan responded that all possibilities had been examined and the integrated Spanish solution was the best option.
Members noted the existing operation of a similar system of electrification using pantographs at Harrogate. Members were shown plans for the development of the pantograph and ancillary equipment at Crystal Palace Bus Station. It was noted that this would not interfere in any way with the movement of buses and existing bus services. A permitted development certificate of lawfulness had been granted by the Council.
Plans were also shown for the installation of the relevant equipment in a disused yard at Orpington Bus Station. This land was owned jointly by The Arch Company and Network Rail; work was being undertaken to arrange the required leases. Preparation of the sites would commence during spring/summer 2022.
A Member drew attention to the 43 bus route which was serviced with garage charged electric buses with a range of 160 miles. This being the case, he wondered why the new technology was required. Mr Colgan explained that around 10%-15% of the current bus routes had a daily mileage per bus of over 200 miles and so the new technology was a cost effective way of operating bus routes with a high daily mileage, often in excess of 200 miles.
It was noted that the electric power would come from the National Grid.
A Member asked if the new buses would be ok to navigate some of the steep hills that existed in places like Anerley. Mr Colgan said that the relevant testing would be undertaken and that the buses were currently navigating steep hills in Spain.
A Member asked if the presentation could be uploaded to the Bromley Council website. Mr Colgan requested that this be co-ordinated with the TfL press team.
RESOLVED that the presentation on the TfL trial of the proposed electrification of the 358 bus route be noted.