With electric and hydrogen powered vehicles already in service across the West Midlands in Birmingham, Coventry and Walsall, Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) is keen to encourage all operators to invest in zero-emission vehicles in order to quickly progress the ‘decarbonisation’ of public transport.
One of the biggest drawbacks that smaller bus operators face though is the cost of buying these new electric or hydrogen vehicles, which can be as much as twice or three times the price of conventional diesel models.
TfWM has been carrying out its own independent research into other alternatives for zero-emission vehicles, and a Dudley-based company believes it has the answer.
Crottin & Connerie have spent the last three years researching and developing new methods of powering passenger carrying vehicles while having a minimal impact on the environment.
They believe they now have the answer, and TfWM are looking to trial this in partnership with smaller operators in the Dudley area.
Doug Crottin, of Crottin & Connerie, told us that “sometimes the old ideas are the best”.
“We did not set about trying to reinvent the wheel. Me and Shaun (Connerie) spent ages looking at ways of motorising a vehicle that wasn’t damaging to the environment.
“In the end, after watching an old movie, it hit us square in the face.
“We ended up designing a simple coach, for passengers to sit inside, which would be pulled along by a series of horses.”
Shaun then continued, “Granted, the bus wouldn’t be able to travel very fast, but with traffic the way it is around Dudley at the moment, I don’t think passengers would notice any difference.”
I pointed out to them both that technically these are not actually ‘zero-emission’ vehicles though.
“Well yes of course there is some ’emission’ from the horses, ” Sam chuckles, “however at least the waste can be put to good use.”
A spokesperson for Dudley Council told us that they were delighted with the concept, and as well as providing a solution to sustainable travel, additional jobs would be created. “As well as cleaning and maintenance of the coaches, the hard-working horses will also require grooming and stabling. There will of course be exciting new opportunities to join our street cleaning teams.”
Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, is typically enthusiastic about the project.
“I’m always delighted to be involved with innovative technology solutions, and I’m pleased that this alternative method of providing quality zero-emission public transport is being considered as a cost-effective solution for smaller operators that can’t get access to financial support and subsidies like bigger operators can.
“And it’s also great that so many additional jobs will be created, and horses can be put to good use again.”
Crottin & Connerie hope to have finalised low-floor accessible vehicle designs in production before the end of the year, and TfWM are aiming to have horse drawn buses back on the streets of Dudley by April 1st 2023.
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