Trolleybuses are one of the UK’s best chances to deal with the climate emergency

After climate change set February temperatures racing, Eric Doherty explores the benefits of the UK adopting a battery-operated public transport system

Bringing back an antiquated mode of travel just may be the answer (Dilruba Tayfun)

In December, London mayor Sadiq Khan declared a climate emergency at the unanimous request of the London assembly. The assembly calls on Khan to do “an urgent updating of his carbon reduction targets to make London carbon neutral by 2030”. It is only eleven years to 2030 and transport is Britain’s largest source of greenhouse gas pollution. There is no time to wait for new technologies to be developed and proven in service.

London is already introducing electric buses that charge when stopped, but only on the least demanding routes. The biggest benefits for climate and regional air quality come from switching the longest, fastest and busiest routes to electricity. The good news is that battery trolleybuses are ready to replace diesel buses. Battery trolleybus technology is well proven; the system in Rome has been in operation since 2005.

Climate emergency requires rubber tyres