UK (Commonwealth Union) – Many cities across the world have made the switch to sustainable energy models in public transport, that include hybrid vehicles, EVs and vehicles utilizing biogas. The high initial cost to purchase renewable energy vehicles, together with a lack of locations or points of recharge or refueling for biogas, and some sustainable energy vehicles inability to travel longer distances serve as setbacks quite often for most people to make the switch to sustainable models. These issues however are likely to be minimized with ongoing research and expanded usage that would bring the cost down and increase points of recharging or refueling centers.
Changes are also set to take place for public transport on routes to the University of Cambridge. The university in its responsibility to sustainability and sustainable business travel awarded an 8-year contract to the Whippet bus service which is to provide new electric busses from July 2023.
A University bus for everyone, is subsidized by the University of Cambridge, and transports approximately 60,000 passengers a week, connecting the neighborhood of Eddington with West Cambridge, the city center, train station together with the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. University staff and students utilize the transport, together with the Eddington residents, 6th form students, shoppers, tourists and key workers.
The University’s Planning and Resources Committee authorized the implementing of the electric service, by exchanging it with diesel service currently used, and the route extension. The costs for travel for University Card holders are to remain in spite the significant extra investment the University put into the new bus service.
“We are delighted to announce that the Universal bus service will operate with a fleet of new electric buses from next year, and that students, staff and members of the public will soon be able to also use the service at Girton College, Homerton College and Wolfson College,” said Professor David Cardwell, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Strategy and Planning.
