The National Transport Authority, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann, have tlaunched the Low Emission Bus Trial.

The trials will test a range of technologies and fuels under real-driving conditions on selected routes in both Dublin and Cork. Supported by the Green Public Transport Fund, full electric, hybrid-electric, hydrogen and compressed natural gas/biogas buses will be tested alongside retrofitted diesel buses. The buses will be assessed under a number of headings including CO­2 and air quality pollutant emissions, energy efficiency, costs, and infrastructural requirements. The trials will run until April 2019 and will help to further inform future purchasing decisions for the urban public bus fleet.

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Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross T.D., said: "2018 has been a watershed year for recognising the impacts of climate change. These vehicle trials confirm the commitment expressed in the National Development Plan that from July next year, no diesel-only buses will be purchased for the publicly-owned urban bus fleets. We are determined that the choice of fuels or technologies that we make will be the right one for our urban bus fleets and will support the continued provision of effective public transport services as well as contributing to decarbonising the transport sector and improving our urban air quality."