'You don't plug an electric bus into a 13amp socket' - bus chief says Sadiq Khan plan is impossible by 2030

"You don't plug an electric bus into a 13amp socket. It's a very high voltage system that takes a lot of planning. There is limited power in the London Grid. You have to book your power up to five years in advance. Then you have to get it to your front door or back door. Only then can you electrify the garage."

"It's not just about buying buses, it's about electrifying the depots - and electrifying the depots will become progressively more difficult."

"What this is doing in London is creating a barrier to entry for new bus operators."

Electrifying London's bus fleet by 2030 faces major practical challenges beyond vehicle procurement. Around 2,600 of 9,000 London buses are currently zero-emission, about 30 percent, but Transport for London projects a full conversion by 2034 without Government funding. Depot electrification requires high-voltage infrastructure, long lead times for booking power, and physical delivery of capacity to garage sites, creating barriers for operators. First Bus London commits to electrifying nine of ten garages by 2030, excluding Park Royal due to power and site constraints, and plans conversions at Stamford Brook and Westbourne Park over the next two years.

Read at www.standard.co.uk