The order will mean the number of electric double-deckers in London will increase more than tenfold.
Of the 68 vehicles, 37 are Enviro400EVs (pictured) manufactured by the Chinese-British partnership of BYD and Alexander Dennis Ltd (ADL) and will operate on route 43 between Friern Barnet, in north London, and London Bridge station.
The remaining 31 are Metrodecker EVs, manufactured by Optare, and will go into service on route 134 between North Finchley and Tottenham Court Road.
The BYD ADL Enviro400EV 10.9m-long bus will feature ADL’s City style bodywork with a glazed staircase and will be built to TfL’s specification. It uses BYD’s iron-phosphate battery technology which enables the buses to run all day on a single charge.
The chargers, managed by BYD’s smart charging battery management system, will not only service the new double-deckers but also Metroline’s fleet of 23 10.8m single-deck BYD ADL Enviro200EV buses when they enter service in the middle of this year.
Metroline’s CEO Jaspal Singh said: “The 37 new BYD ADL Enviro400EVs have very impressive environmental credentials and will deliver significant benefits for Londoners.”
Optare’s Metrodecker EV has a plated gvw of 18,000kg and can carry more than 90 passengers. It has a range of 150-plus miles on a single charge.
Claire Mann, TfL’s director of bus operations, said: “We’re committed to reducing emissions from London’s buses and making routes 43 and 134 exclusively electric is an important step to a zero-emission fleet.”
She added: “With this landmark order it means the largest pure electric double-deck bus fleet in Europe will help reduce emissions across the capital.”