£1.8m West Yorkshire school bus refit completed

West Yorkshire Combined Authority predicts that project will reduce emissions of NOx and PM by 90% from 119-bus fleet

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority has completed a project to retrofit its 119-strong fleet of school buses with emission reduction technology, in a bid to tackle air quality in the region.

The £1 million project was funded through the Department for Transport’s Clean Bus Technology grant scheme, and saw the authority retrofit Selective Catalytic Reduction Technology (SCRT) to the vehicles.

Councillor James Lewis with pupils from Carr Manor Secondary School, Leeds

A further £800,000 was provided by the Authority to complete the project.

Each of the buses has also been fitted with an eco-driver performance management system which helps drivers to operate the vehicles in a more fuel efficient manner.

The retrofit is expected to lead to a reduction of emission of NOx (nitrogen oxides) and PM (particulate matter) by over 90%.

Health

Commenting on the project, West Yorkshire Combined Authority chair councillor Peter Box, said: “Young people are especially susceptible to the potential adverse health effects of vehicle emissions so fitting this technology to school buses is particularly beneficial.

“As these vehicles operate in the vicinity of the school gate there will also be further health benefits for children who walk or cycle to school as well as for parents and those children board and alighting buses.”

The Authority claims that as a result of the refit, the effective life of the vehicles is likely to have been extended by up to five years.

Combined Authority Transport Committee chairman councillor James Lewis added: “Research has shown that an estimated 22% of the journeys made on West Yorkshire’s yellow buses were previously made by car, which means that My Bus has already contributed to reduced emissions around the county’s schools.

“Fitting these 119 buses with this clean bus technology will further reduce those emissions.”