On the weekend of 2-3 July 2022, Abellio London Buses will be bringing one of their best-in-class route 63 buses to London Transport Museum’s ‘Act On It!’ Depot Open Days in Acton Town. Visitors will be able to jump aboard the bus and speak to the Abellio team to learn all about the technology under the hood!
What makes this bus different from most of the other buses that you are likely to see on London’s streets? This is a fully electric bus and will be actively contributing to decarbonising London. In the last year alone, Abellio London Buses have clocked up over 2 million electric miles, which equates to 10 million journeys and a saving of 3,647 tonnes of carbon emissions from exhausts!
The Alexander Dennis manufactured buses on route 63 are powered by a state of the art 382KW battery that can be charged overnight. They have innovative features, aimed at making them an attractive, green alternative to the car. They have a more open feel – with a skylight on the upper deck and a larger rear window. USB chargers and mobile phone holders in the seats mean passengers can work or relax more easily, while also taking the time to watch the sights of London.
These new buses have put the passenger at the heart of their design and accessibility has been considered throughout. New covers for the priority seats, with a contrasting colour scheme, help differentiate them from other seats for passengers who are less able to stand. The vehicles also have a larger wheelchair and buggy area, improving accessibility and helping parents get around town.
New digital signage on board the buses shares a wider range of real-time information, including the time to the next stop, disruptions, space on the next bus and service updates for Tube, Overground and DLR services. The buses also feature a new design on the rear of the bus, having a wide exterior route number and full destination display, improving information for customers.
In order to power this new generation of cleaner buses, Abellio London Bus has upgraded six depots across London to provide DC charging points to quickly charge the batteries and keep the buses moving.
Whether you explore the bus up close at the ‘Act-on It!’ Depot Open Days, or travel on one of them between Honor Oak and Kings Cross on route 63, you’re going to be seeing more and more electric buses in London soon!
