New safer electric buses have begun their London rollout today on the 358 route powered by tram-like pantograph technology. 

The technology means drivers can charge the buses in as little as six minutes at either end of the 15-mile route, removing the need to return to garages to recharge. 

This comes as part of Mayor Sadiq Khan’s commitment to a zero-emission bus fleet by 2030 by removing the need for as many buses on the route. 

Director of buses at TFL, Lorna Murphy said: “Londoners deserve to breathe clean air, and it is vital that we continue to deliver solutions to address this. 

“Installing new rapid-charging pantograph infrastructure on one of London’s longest bus routes is an innovative step forward, helping us to run cleaner, greener services that get Londoners where they need to be.” 

London’s bus fleet is already one of the greenest in the world, with less CO2 emissions per passenger kilometres than New York, Paris and Vancouver, and the largest zero-emissions bus fleet in Western Europe with 1,700 buses in operation. 

Carrying up to 80 times the number of passengers and only three times as much space as a car, London’s buses are seen as key to cutting congestion and meeting sustainable transport, safety and environmental targets.  

Route 358, from Crystal Palace to Orpington, is an important milestone in achieving those targets.  

Policy adviser at Green Alliance, Rosie Allen said: “As the buses make their way across 15 miles of South London streets, charging at either end, they’ll prove that there is no route too long for electric buses, and point the way to a future free of fossil fuels for transport.” 

The new bus design also includes a safer front-end, speed limiting technology, audible road alerts, improved driver vision via camera monitoring, improved seating and slip protection flooring.  

These are part of TFL’s commitment to the mayor’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating all deaths and injuries on London’s roads.  

The buses also have enhanced customer features such as USB ports and palm-operated assistance buttons.  

Alongside the target of a fully zero-emission fleet, there are initiatives to deliver a faster and more efficient bus service across London, including 25km of new bus lanes by 2025 and better interchanges. 

Part of this was the Superloop network launched by TFL in 2023 which added more than six million kilometres per year to the bus network linking stations, hospitals and transport hubs.  

The pantograph buses on route 358 is the result of a collaboration between Go-Ahead London, TFL and Spanish supplier Irizar. 

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