Buses undertake many miles of travel in urban areas and traditionally run on diesel fuel, which produces CO2 emissions and has been proven to have a negative impact on air quality. Therefore, steps are being taken to drive down emissions by the Department for Transport (DfT), which, through the Low Emission Bus Scheme, has provided grants for deployment of low emission buses and related infrastructure on existing routes around the country.
The Mercedes-Benz Future Bus with CityPilot has recently been making its first public journey on part of Europe's longest BRT route in the Netherlands. This links Amsterdam's Schiphol airport with the town of Haarlem. This almost 20 km long route was a real challenge for the Mercedes-Benz Future Bus, as it has numerous bends and passes through tunnels and across junctions with traffic lights.
In June 2016, the first hydrogen fuel cell bus went into regular service in Apeldoorn, one of he larger cities in Gelderland. The bus only emits water, which improves air quality. It is also almost completely silent. Gelderland company Hymove developed the technology for the bus with EU financial support.
California is one of the first American states that has a Type C full-size schoolbus on the road. Billed as the only electric Type C school bus built in North America, the eLion looks pretty much like the typical big, yellow school bus, albeit with a more modern face. Below its long, yellow shell, though, the eLion loses the typical diesel powertrain in favor of a TM4 electric motor wired to three to five battery packs. Three battery packs power the bus for up to 50 miles (80 km); four packs go 75 miles (121 km); and five packs bring it up to 100 (161 km).
A Scania BRT bus with Marcopolo-built bodywork is the first compressed natural gas (CNG) articulated bus operating in the City of Monterrey, Mexico. The 18-metre Scania bus, fitted with a Euro 6 engine generating 320 horsepower, is being demonstrated by Scania Mexico.