Iconic double-decker buses we've come to love and seamlessly associate with driving through the London streets, are soon to be powered by electric motors only.

As a result of transport authorities' efforts to reduce the capital's air pollution levels, London Mayor Boris Johnson announced the trial of all-electric bus, which will enter service in mid October. Transportation for London (TFL) signed a contract with an automotive factory BYD from China, which is to build the world's first purpose-built electric doubledecker.

So far it was believed that the batteries required to power electric doubledeckers would be too heavy and too expensive, but according to the Mayor "by working with BYD and utilizing the latest cutting edge technology, London has been able to secure another world first." The electric bus is said to be able to drive for more than 155 miles even in heavy city traffic on a single charge and would (as all the other new buses) comply with the ultra-low emission zone that will come into effect in 2020.

To date, BYD (Build Your Dreams) has built more than 5,000 electric buses globally, evaluated by more than 150 cities in 36 countries. By utilizing BYD's proprietary environmentally-friendly non-toxic Iron- Phosphate battery (which offers the only 12-year-battery warranty in the entire industry) it meets almost 80% of urban transit needs with typical range of over 155 miles. 

July 13, 2015 Driving photo: Byd

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