A view from the ground: European megacities march towards electrification

Toxic fumes are claiming lives in European capitals. As Transport for London’s Tom Cunnington explains, buses are one of the things local authorities have power over to tackle the problem directly

The UK has the unenviable distinction of having the worst pollution-related death rates in Europe, and emissions from vehicles are a major contributor to this. Around 50,000 deaths in the island nation can be attributed annually to toxic air, according to the World Health Organization, and the Mayor of London’s office says 9,000 of those deaths annually are in London. The capital made the headlines at the start of 2018 when it was reported that by the end of January, it had already run over its annual air pollution limits. The law requires that nitrogen dioxide measurements must not exceed more than 200 micrograms per cubic metre more than 18 times in a year. So far this year, four locations in the city have had more than 18 breeches, and an additional eight locations have exceeded the 200mg/m3 figure at least once. Busier locations show the scale of the problem - Brixton Road in the borough of Lambeth has recorded 78 breeches so far.