I had a ride on the bus this afternoon from Stoke Newington (where it is pictured just before three o'clock) and was definitely impressed by how far electric technology has come in just a few years; not so very long ago there was no way an electric bus would be capable of performing a full day's work, and so much space would have been needed for equipment that seat space was sacrificed. The Dart-sized Olymbus can seat 30 with 20 standing. If electric bus technology has progressed so far that it can produce the kind of decent performance and reduced noise I experienced on the Olymbus, there is no reason not to set a date for specifying it as standard - I'm assuming the cost is considerably less than on comparative fuel cell buses, and without the perceived risks attributed to hydrogen.

But when and if whoever feels up to the challenge does put such a vehicle into production, they're going to have to do something about its looks, because that's the only real drawback to today's Designline Olymbus - I hate to pour water on such a promising debut, but it's quite the most hideous-looking assemblage of steel and fibreglass that I've ever seen in all my born days!