Stagecoach East has acquired 22 new buses fitted with innovative ‘start-stop’ technology to help reduce nitrous-oxide emissions and improve air quality in Cambridge city centre.

The Euro 6 system prevents buses from ‘ticking over’ while loading and unloading passengers at bus stops.

Instead, it automatically switches the engine off as soon as the driver activates the handbrake and opens the doors, thereby reducing pollution.

The company purchased the 22 E400 MMC buses from Guildford-based Alexander Dennis Ltd (www.alexander-dennis.com) for £4.7 million, making its buses the ‘greenest’ in Cambridge.

Andy Campbell, managing director of Stagecoach East, said: “This is the very latest technology; it was only just available when we ordered our new Park & Ride fleet.

“The principle is a simple one: turn the engine off when the bus isn’t moving and it will use less fuel, improving overall economy and reducing emissions.

“We see this as a significant contribution towards improving the air quality in congested Cambridge, reducing our environmental impact.”