Bristol Green Buses

First Bus Driving the Green Agenda in Bristol

First Bus was proud to be an official partner of  Bristol European Green Capital 2015. Bristol has always had a reputation for setting the public transport agenda, and First Bus worked hard to help establish Bristol as a test-bed for sustainable transport innovation.

For example, a First Bus trial of a gas powered bus, commonly known as the ‘Poo Bus’ as it’s powered by bio-methane created using human and food waste, has led to a joint bid alongside four local authorities for 110 double decker bio-methane buses for Bristol.  Should these plans be successful, the vehicles will be deployed on routes designated ‘Air Quality Management Areas’ and First Bus in Bristol will by some distance run the most environmentally friendly fleet in the UK.

First Bus continues to experiment with electric power. The introduction of GPS geo-fence technology enables Virtual Electric vehicles to recognise when they enter areas of the city with poor air quality and then switch to green all-electric mode. Two of these buses, funded in part by the DfT, entered service in Bristol at the start of 2016.

In addition, 58 double decker low carbon certified vehicles fitted with Euro 6 engines will have entered the Bristol fleet this financial year, replacing single-deckers and providing more capacity.  That includes 34 ‘StreetDeck Micro Hybrid’ buses, which are among the most fuel efficient vehicles available and a product that First Bus helped trial, develop and bring to market.