The introduction of 159 electric buses in Oxford has delivered significant reductions in both air and noise pollution, according to new research.
Provisional data shows that electrifying the bus fleet reduced citywide roadside nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations by an average of 10% between 2023 and 2024, with reductions of up to 24% in high-traffic areas such as St Aldates and High Street, according to the analysis by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
Traffic-related noise in central Oxford fell by an average of 5.1 decibels — equivalent to moving three times further away from a road — with residents reporting fewer sleep disturbances and less diesel fumes.
The £82.5m scheme, agreed in 2023 between Oxfordshire County Council, the Government, Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach, saw electric buses account for 69% of daily bus mileage within the city at full implementation.
Researcher Dr Suzanne Bartington of the University of Birmingham said the transition had a ‘measurable and meaningful impact’, while Roads and Buses Minister Simon Lightwood praised the scheme’s role in delivering cleaner air across towns and cities.
Photo: The new OBC and Stagecoach electric buses at the Oxford launch. Pictures by Ed Nix.
Leave a Reply