Bus manufacturers commit to bring clean buses to 20 cities

Four of the world’s largest bus and engine manufacturers have committed to make it easier for major cities to purchase buses equipped with low emissions technologies, in order to tackle climate change and air pollution.

BYD, Cummins, Scania and Volvo Buses will ensure ‘soot-free’ engine technology is available for purchase in 20 cities, beginning in 2018. The manufacturers will each release, through their websites, a full product portfolio available in each city and begin publicly reporting the number of soot-free buses sold in each year.

“Air pollution is the leading environmental health risk today affecting millions of people, particularly those in our growing cities,” said Erik Solheim, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme. “This agreement is an example of forward thinking private and public cooperation. Investment in technology, products, and business models that benefit people and our environment isn’t just good for the planet, it’s good for business.”

Soot free is defined as any engine that meets Euro VI norms first established in Europe or EPA 2010 norms first established in the United States, and any diesel engine with a diesel particulate filter, gas-powered engine, or a dedicated electric drive engine. Further reductions in climate impacts of soot-free buses are achievable with low-carbon fuels and engines that deliver the lowest greenhouse gas emissions.

The cities involved in the scheme are, Abidjan, Accra, Addis Ababa, Bangkok, Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Casablanca, Dar es Salaam, Dhaka, Istanbul, Jakarta, Johannesburg, Lagos, Lima, Manila, Mexico City, Nairobi, Santiago, São Paulo, and Sydney.

“In Santiago, air pollution has been a prime challenge for the last three decades and buses are the major source for particulate matter and NOx pollution in the city,” said Claudio Orrego, Governor of Santiago. “Santiago was the first city in the country to commit to soot-free bus technology. I’m confident with this commitment matched by the actions in our cities we will soon see the end of high polluting buses on our streets.”

Less than 20 percent of all buses sold globally meet the definition of soot-free, with the vast majority being diesel powered. Older generation diesel technology produces high levels of black carbon emissions, or soot, which are amongst the most dangerous pollutants for public health and a major contributor to climate change.