A FORMULA One team from Oxfordshire has been the inspiration behind a new fleet of low emission buses.

Oxford is set to become the first city to benefit from the vehicles, which are based on technology developed by Willams F1 team.

A £3.7m investment will see 14 new buses fitted with Gyrodrive technology that reduces fuel consumption and emissions by 20 per cent.

The new fleet of Oxford Bus Company vehicles will run on the BrookesBus service between the Harcourt Hill, Headington and Wheatley campuses from Saturday, September 13.

Gyrodrive technology, developed by Williams F1 at Grove, has been trialled in London, but the new Brookes buses will be the first to implement the technology on a regular service.

The system stores energy generated by the bus as it slows down to a stop.

This energy is then used to power an electric motor that accelerates the bus back up to speed.

Oxford Bus Company operations director Phil Southall said: “For nearly twenty years Oxford Bus has been at the forefront of green technology.

“Although the concept has been trialled in London these new buses will be the first Gyrodrive hybrids to go into regular service.”

He added: “It achieves the benefits of electric hybrids at a fraction of the cost.”

Brookes University’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor June Gurvin said: “These new buses represent the best of Oxford Brookes, not just through the activities and achievements that are highlighted on the bodywork but also in their benefits to Oxford and to the environment.”

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