The rollout of electric buses across the Oxford area is being linked to noticeable reductions in both air and noise pollution, according to new research.
A total of 159 battery-powered buses have been introduced on routes serving the city and surrounding areas following an £82.5 million investment agreed in 2023. The partnership involved Oxfordshire County Council, the UK government, Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach Group.
Early findings suggest the switch to electric vehicles has helped cut roadside levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) across the city by around 10% between 2023 and 2024. In streets where buses are particularly common, such as St Aldates and High Street, reductions of up to 24% have been recorded.
Researchers also found that replacing diesel buses with electric ones has led to a drop in traffic-related noise in central Oxford. On average, roadside noise levels fell by 5.1 decibels, roughly equivalent to the difference experienced by standing three times further away from a busy road.
The analysis was carried out by the Public Health Intervention Responsive Studies Team, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research. The team, which includes researchers from the University of Birmingham, University of Warwick and Keele University, worked in partnership with the University of Oxford to assess environmental changes linked to the new fleet.
Their study examined air and noise pollution levels before, during and after the electric buses were introduced. Researchers also gathered feedback from people affected by the changes, including passengers, residents, commuters and other stakeholders.
The project was supported by the government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) programme, which aims to reduce transport emissions and modernise bus services across England. Since 2021, the scheme has helped introduce more than 4,000 zero-emission buses nationwide.
In Oxfordshire, the county council contributed £6 million to the initiative and secured £32.8 million in funding from the Department for Transport. Bus operators added a further £43.7 million, allowing the electric buses to be deployed across 34 routes in the city, nearby areas and on sightseeing services.
With the project fully implemented, electric vehicles now account for around 69% of daily bus mileage in Oxford and nearly half of all bus movements in the city.
Although air quality in Oxford has improved in recent years and most areas now meet legal pollution limits, some locations still exceed recommended guidelines set by the World Health Organization.
It is lso known that reducing noise pollution is important for public health. Noise exposure has been linked to sleep disruption and an increased risk of conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, depression and anxiety.
Dr Suzanne Bartington, Clinical Associate Professor in Environmental Health at the University of Birmingham, said: ‘The transition to electric buses has had a measurable and meaningful impact on air and traffic related noise quality in Oxford. Importantly, we found that people noticed these changes – including less diesel fumes and fewer sleep disturbances, suggesting a real benefit for people’s lives.’
Photo: Ed Nix
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