Bus operators across England will be able to bid for a share of the Clean Bus Technology Fund 2015, which, the government believes, will enable them to retrofit hundreds of buses with SCR (selective catalytic reduction) systems aimed at reducing their NOx (nitrogen oxides) emissions by at least 50%.
Transport minister Andrew Jones says the fund is open for bids until the end of October, with a particular focus on pollution hotspots in cites and urban areas.
“The £5 million Clean Bus Technology Fund will provide hundreds of cleaner buses to improve air quality in towns and cities across England and I urge local authorities to submit bids,” states Jones.
“The funding will also support the British industries helping deliver the technology,” he continues.
“Today’s announcement continues the government’s commitment to improve air quality by upgrading existing vehicles on the road while also backing the low-emission solutions for the future.”
The new scheme is in addition to the £20 million already invested by the government since 2011, together with some significant contributions from local authorities and bus operators, in similar retrofit systems.
So far, some 1,500 buses have been retrofitted in London and in other parts of England and last year’s Clean Vehicle Technology Fund provided more than £8 million to councils to upgrade over 1,200 vehicles, including vans, taxis, buses and even fire engines.
Winners granted access to a share of the new £5 million fund will be announced towards the end of the year.