The Mayor of London aims to increase the number of hydrogen buses on London's roads from three to seventy over the coming four years, edie.net reports.

The expansion is part of a wider drive towards creating a 'hydrogen economy' for London under the banner of the London Hydrogen Partnership.

The existing hydrogen buses run on fuel cells, which work by oxidising hydrogen. This produces energy and gives off water as the only by-product, dramatically cutting harmful emissions of greenhouse gases.

London Mayor Ken Livingstone said: "Hydrogen fuel cells could offer a real alternative to diesel in the future."

He continued: "The high cost of the vehicles is the major barrier at the moment but the greater the demand for vehicles, the more the costs will come down."

He called on vehicle manufacturers to "gear up for this change".

Nicky Gavron, chairman of the London Hydrogen Partnership, welcomed the Mayor's commitment, noting that "this will move London to a position of leadership on this issue in Europe and around the world" and send "a strong signal to industry that London is the place to come to deliver hydrogen vehicles".

Meanwhile, six diesel-hybrid buses are currently being run in central London on the 360 route that links Elephant and Castle to the Royal Albert Hall.


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