Take the (electric) bus: Public transport and air pollution | WSP Skip to content
  • Who We Are

    We are the sum of our collective passion, vision and expertise.

    Discover our people, purpose and stories that have helped shape the organization we are today and are inspiring the one we will become.

    Who We Are
    • What We Stand For
    • Our Story
    • Corporate Responsibility
    • Our Leadership
    Corporate Responsibility
    • Communities
    • Corporate Governance
    • Diversity and Inclusion
    • Ethics and Integrity
    • Health and Safety
    • Sustainability
    Featured Content

    Future Ready

    With Future Ready we see the future more clearly and challenge our teams across the world to advise…

  • What We Do
  • Insights

    Our global experts offer compelling insights that provide new perspectives.

    Read inspiring articles that challenge the status quo by reframing current issues, sparking fresh conversations and finding new solutions.

    View all
    Insights
    • Climate
    • Mobility
    • Places
    • Resources
    • Society
    • Technology
    Featured Content

    Digital Twins Contribute to Infrastructure…

    Driving optimal outcomes for projects and communities

  • Careers

    Help us shape the future

    Join a collaborative team of experts that thrives on complex challenges and unconventional thinking.

    See more
    Careers
    • Join Us
    • Early Career
    • Experienced Professionals
    • Why Choose WSP
    Featured Content

    WSP is hiring in power

    Care to join us in doing purposeful, sustainable work that helps shape communities and the future?…

  • Who We Are
    • What We Stand For
    • Our Story
    • Corporate Responsibility
      • Who We Are
      • Accountable for Tomorrow
        • Communities
        • Corporate Governance
        • Diversity and Inclusion
        • Ethics and Integrity
        • Health and Safety
        • Sustainability
    • Our Leadership
  • What We Do
  • Insights
    • Climate
    • Mobility
    • Places
    • Resources
    • Society
    • Technology
  • Careers
    • Join Us
    • Early Career
    • Experienced Professionals
    • Why Choose WSP
Back

We are locally dedicated with international scale.

Poland - English

International

  • Global
    English - Français

Americas

  • Canada
    English - Français
  • Chile
    Español
  • Colombia
    Español
  • Mexico
    Español
  • Panama
    Español
  • Peru
    Español
  • United States
    English

Africa

  • South Africa
    English

Asia

  • China
    中文(简体) - English
  • Hong Kong
    English
  • India
    English
  • Malaysia
    English
  • Philippines
    English
  • Singapore
    English
  • South Korea
    한국어(대한민국) - English
  • Thailand
    English

Europe

  • Denmark
    Dansk
  • Finland
    Suomi
  • France
    Français
  • Germany
    Deutsch
  • Greenland
    Kalaallisut - English
  • Netherlands
    Nederlands
  • Norway
    Norsk
  • Poland
    Polski - English
  • Romania
    English
  • Spain
    Español
  • Sweden
    Svenska - English
  • Switzerland
    Deutsch - English
  • United Kingdom
    English

Middle East

  • Kuwait
    English
  • Oman
    English
  • Qatar
    English
  • Saudi Arabia
    English
  • United Arab Emirates
    English

Oceania

  • Australia
    English
  • New Zealand
    English
Worldwide Offices
    • Investors

      Discover our diverse business, financial results and strategic ambitions.

      We are committed to delivering sustainable value to our shareholders and exceptional professional services to our clients.

      Read more
      Investors
      • Corporate Governance
      • Press Releases
      • Reports & Filings
      • Stock Information
      • Shareholder Information
      • Presentations and Events
      Corporate Governance
      • Audit Committee
      • Board of Directors
      • Business Conduct Hotline
      • Constating Documents
      • Governance Documents
      • Governance Ethics and Compensation Committee
      • Mandates
      Reports & Filings
      • AIF
      • Annual
      • Information Circular
      • Quarterly
      • SEDAR Filings
      • Sustainability
      Stock Information
      • Analyst Coverage
      Shareholder Information
      • Acquisitions
      • Dividends
      • Drip
      • FAQ
      Featured Content

      WSP's Q3 2020 Results

      We released our 2020 third quarter results on November 4, 2020 after market close

    • Investors
      • Corporate Governance
        • Investors
        • Corporate Governance
          • Audit Committee
          • Board of Directors
          • Business Conduct Hotline
          • Constating Documents
          • Governance Documents
          • Governance Ethics and Compensation Committee
          • Mandates
      • Press Releases
      • Reports & Filings
        • Investors
        • REPORTS & FILINGS
          • AIF
          • Annual
          • Information Circular
          • Quarterly
          • SEDAR Filings
          • Sustainability
      • Stock Information
        • Investors
        • Stock Information
          • Analyst Coverage
      • Shareholder Information
        • Investors
        • Shareholder Information
          • Acquisitions
          • Dividends
          • Drip
          • FAQ
      • Presentations and Events
    • News

      Progress happens quickly.

      Stay up to date with our latest global news, events, awards and more.

      News
      • Latest News
      • Press Releases
      Featured Content

      Scaling Up Healthcare Capacity At Speed

      With the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, our global healthcare network and specialist teams have…

    • Contact us

      We are dedicated to our local communities and driven by global talent.

      Contact us to find out how our diversified offering, world-class expertise and geographical reach can assist you in achieving your vision.


      Follow us

      Contact us
      • Send a Message
      • Offices
      Featured Content

      our office

      Acting locally means being present in our communities. With offices throughout the world, you can…

    • Investors

      Discover our diverse business, financial results and strategic ambitions.

      We are committed to delivering sustainable value to our shareholders and exceptional professional services to our clients.

      Read more
      Investors
      • Corporate Governance
      • Press Releases
      • Reports & Filings
      • Stock Information
      • Shareholder Information
      • Presentations and Events
      Corporate Governance
      • Audit Committee
      • Board of Directors
      • Business Conduct Hotline
      • Constating Documents
      • Governance Documents
      • Governance Ethics and Compensation Committee
      • Mandates
      Reports & Filings
      • AIF
      • Annual
      • Information Circular
      • Quarterly
      • SEDAR Filings
      • Sustainability
      Stock Information
      • Analyst Coverage
      Shareholder Information
      • Acquisitions
      • Dividends
      • Drip
      • FAQ
      Featured Content

      WSP's Q3 2020 Results

      We released our 2020 third quarter results on November 4, 2020 after market close

    • Investors
      • Corporate Governance
        • Investors
        • Corporate Governance
          • Audit Committee
          • Board of Directors
          • Business Conduct Hotline
          • Constating Documents
          • Governance Documents
          • Governance Ethics and Compensation Committee
          • Mandates
      • Press Releases
      • Reports & Filings
        • Investors
        • REPORTS & FILINGS
          • AIF
          • Annual
          • Information Circular
          • Quarterly
          • SEDAR Filings
          • Sustainability
      • Stock Information
        • Investors
        • Stock Information
          • Analyst Coverage
      • Shareholder Information
        • Investors
        • Shareholder Information
          • Acquisitions
          • Dividends
          • Drip
          • FAQ
      • Presentations and Events
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Press Releases
    • Contact us
      • Send a Message
      • Offices
  1. We are WSP
  2. Insights
  3. Take the electric bus- public transport and air pollution

Take the (electric) bus: Public transport and air pollution

Replacing old fleets is one of the quickest routes to cutting pollutants
1 October 2020
Reading Time : 3 minutes

This article was originally published in August 2019 in WSP’s magazine The Possible

Getting on the bus rather than taking your car has long been a tenet of green city living — an orthodoxy that is somewhat challenged when you look at the greatest sources of NOx and particulates in many major cities. Although there are far fewer buses than cars, their large diesel engines, combined with stop-start journeys and idling at stops, means that a city’s bus fleet can produce more pollution than all its petrol cars combined. Of even greater concern might be the fact that a disproportionate amount of bus emissions occur when the bus is leaving a stop — so those waiting for the next bus can experience up to 150 times the pollution levels of pedestrians just a block away.

Cleaner diesels, hybrids and gas-powered buses are improving the situation for those cities able to adopt them. Cleanest of all, with virtually zero emissions, are electric buses. Replacing the oldest, dirtiest buses with electric models can be one of the quickest and most effective ways to reduce both NOx and particulates in city streets.

“So far the main barrier preventing cities from doing this is the upfront cost,” says Nick Albanese, an expert in electric transport with BloombergNEF. “At between US$570-870,000, they are around $250,000 more expensive than diesel equivalents. For this reason their adoption has been limited to places like China, California and Europe where government subsidies have made up the difference.”

They also require charging infrastructure. Newer electric buses have 350kWh batteries with a range of more than 200 miles, enough for a whole day of journeys, before they are charged overnight in the depot. “These are the pricier buses,” says Albanese. “Cheaper, lower range models can still be useful for shorter routes.”

Another way of dealing with range issues is to install wireless induction charging technology — for example, at bus stops — so buses can pick up a charge along with passengers. Chattanooga in Tennessee is one of a limited number of cities adopting this technology. “In general this kind of infrastructure is expensive and charging tends to be slower,” says Albanese.

Such innovations could soon be superseded by rapid improvements in batteries. “Battery costs have reduced by over 85% since 2010. The technology is also better. Some municipalities were concerned about batteries not performing well in cold weather, for example, but many of these concerns have now been addressed by manufacturers.”

Currently some 99% of the world’s electric buses are operating in China, where they comprise 18% of all buses, according to BloombergNEF’s 2019 Long-Term Electric Vehicle Outlook. In comparison, electric buses represent just over 1% of all municipal buses in Europe. The UK now leads the way with 381 buses, narrowly overtaking the Netherlands, which has 371.

The picture is changing swiftly, however, and by 2030 Albanese believes things will look very different. “Technological and manufacturing improvements mean that price parity with diesels should occur around 2030 or perhaps even earlier. That will be a game-changer.” Major regulatory moves will also put far more e-buses on our roads: California has said that all new buses procured by cities must be zero emission by 2029, and the EU wants 33% of buses to be “clean” by 2030. Many cities, including London and Amsterdam, are imposing stricter targets.

Ironically, says Albanese, it is the rapid improvement in technology that is delaying adoption of electric fleets in some areas. “Cities are calculating that electric buses will soon be cheaper and better, so they think they will wait until they are better value.”

For those queuing for the bus, however, the wait will not be a pleasant one.

This article appeared in The Possible issue 05, as part of a longer feature on improving air quality in cities

 

 


More on this subject

thn-news-waterways

November 2020 | 2 minutes

Water at the heart of long-term thinking for sustainable urban development

New Zealand
Feature
Places , Climate , Society
Are SMEs the missing link in the Net Zero targets?

November 2020 | 11 minutes

Net Zero: Are SMEs The Missing Link In The Chain?

Feature
COVID-19 , Climate , Resilience
TCFD-Insight-thumb-563

October 2020

Advancing Meaningful Climate Action from TCFD Disclosures

White Paper
Climate , Resilience
Why Net Zero should be business as usual

October 2020 | 10 minutes

Can We Make Net Zero Business As Usual?

Feature
COVID-19 , Resources , Climate
thn-victorian-desalination-plant

October 2020

The Future Ready Business of Water Security: Preparing for the Next Drought

Australia
Feature
Climate , Society , Resilience
thn-maritime-insights

October 2020

Can sailing into the past inspire an autonomous future?

Feature
Climate , Resilience , Mobility , Places , Technology
thn-road-to-net-zero-better-normal

October 2020

Who’s Driving? The Road To Net Zero

Feature
COVID-19 , Resources
thn-tackling-urban-air-pollution

October 2020 | 12 minutes

Respiratory Failure - Tackling Urban Air Pollution

Feature
Climate , Resources
thn-insights-designing-built-environment

October 2020

Designing the Built Environment Through a Wider Lens

Australia
Society , Climate , COVID-19 , Resilience
thn-Web-Asset-Mgmt-Resilience

October 2020

Asset Management Prepares Organizations for Unexpected Events

Feature
Resilience , Places , Society , Mobility , COVID-19 , Resources
thn-herbal-remedy

October 2020 | 16 minutes

Herbal Remedy: making space for nature in cities

Feature
Climate
thn-boost-or-block-better-normal

September 2020 | 10 minutes

Will COVID-19 boost or block carbon reduction ambitions?

Feature
COVID-19 , Climate , Resources

Share this page

  • Share on Facebook - Warning, this link will open a new tab.
  • Share on Linkedin - Warning, this link will open a new tab.
  • Share on Twitter - Warning, this link will open a new tab.
  • Share on Skype - Warning, this link will open your Skype application.


Related themes and tags

  • Climate (35)

  • Resources (30)


  •   Page will open in a new tab
  •   Page will open in a new tab
  •   Page will open in a new tab
  •   Page will open in a new tab
  •   Page will open in a new tab
  • Who We Are
  • What We Stand For
  • Our Story
  • Future Ready
  • Our Leadership
  • Our Offices
  • What We Do
  • Sectors
  • Services
  • Projects
  • Insights
  • Climate
  • Mobility
  • Places
  • Society
  • Resources
  • Technology
  • Careers
  • Join Our Team
  • Spontaneous Application
  • Corporate
  • Sustainability
  • Health and Safety
  • Investors
  • Business Conduct Hotline
  • News
  • Ethics and Integrity
    ©2021 WSP
    • The WSP Logo
    • Privacy Policy
    • Anti-Spam commitment
    • Cookie Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • ISO Certification
    ©2021 WSP

    Exiting our Website

    You are about to leave WSP.com and are being redirected to a job opportunity at Louis Berger, which has been recently acquired by WSP in the US.