Buses powered by electric or hydrogen batteries could lure millions of additional passengers onto public transport according to new research into public attitudes towards travel.

However, if they are told that a bus they are catching is powered by an electric or hydrogen fuel cell battery, the proportion who view it as a green form of transport rockets to 81%. 

Contrary to received wisdom in the public transport industry that ‘green’ buses don’t sell any more tickets, 55% of respondents said that they would be more likely to travel by bus if they knew that a zero emission bus was available. This raises the prospect of a significant increase in bus travel as the UK’s 30,000-strong bus fleet transitions from diesel fuel to electric or hydrogen power.

The polling was carried out on behalf of The Go-Ahead Group’s Zero Emission Centre of Excellence, which officially opens today. The centre, based in London, brings together expertise from Go-Ahead’s bus companies across the UK, Ireland, Sweden and Singapore and will develop best practice in buying, running and maintaining zero emission buses.

Louis Rambaud, Go-Ahead’s Director of Strategy and Transformation, said:

“It is surprising that so few people view buses as green, given that they account for just 2% of greenhouse gas emissions from transport, compared to 52% from cars. Public transport is a fundamentally sustainable way to get around.

“Nevertheless, these findings show that zero emission buses are a game changer. If we can demonstrate to the public that buses are green, we can persuade millions of people to leave their cars at home in favour of public transport.

"And this reinforces the value of public sector support for investment in zero emission buses - including the Government's ZEBRA funding scheme for electric and hydrogen buses.”