London's bus fleet is to be augmented by five fuel cell-powered buses by 2010, as the city moves to cut pollution.

The vehicles are to be built by US firm ISE and will be joined on the roads by a further five buses powered by hydrogen but which will use standard combustion engines.

The £10 million deal is part of Mayor Ken Livingstone's plan to introduce 70 new hydrogen-powered vehicles into Transport for London's fleet under the London Hydrogen Transport programme.

Mr Livingstone said: "London is now the first city in Europe to commit to a hydrogen bus fleet of this size, which will match traditional diesel buses in terms of performance.

"This represents a huge step forward from the previous hydrogen trials in the capital and is an important step towards my target of having five per cent of all public sector fleet vehicles powered by hydrogen by 2015," he added.

ISE will be working with Canadian fuel cell firm Ballard and bus manufacturers The Wright Group to deliver the buses.

Source:

London buys hydrogen-fuelled red buses, 14/11/07
http://investing.reuters.co.uk/news/articleinvesting.aspx?type=allBreakingNews&storyID=2007-11-13T104003Z_01_L13206057_RTRIDST_0_LONDON-BUSES.XML

Mayor announces Europe's largest fleet of hydrogen buses for London, 13/11/07
http://www.london.gov.uk/view_press_release.jsp?releaseid=14475

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