That’s according to a report commissioned by campaign group Greener Journeys, which states that fitting air filters to older buses is the most cost-efficient route to cleaner air.
‘Improving air quality in towns and cities’ (click the link below) is authored by professor David Begg, visiting professor at Plymouth University and former chairman of the government’s Commission for Integrated Transport.
The report says that ‘bus retrofitting’ would cost the taxpayer £12 per kg of NOx saved – 15 times less than the projected £175 per kg saved through a diesel car scrappage scheme.
Scrapping older diesel buses and replacing them with the latest models is almost as cost effective as retrofitting, at £16 per kg of NOx saved.
The report urges the government to “put the bus at the centre” of its strategy, if it is serious about tackling air quality in towns and cities across the UK.
Prof David Begg says: “Policy must be based on hard evidence rather than political expediency. Any government money that is available for scrappage schemes should be directed to buses first.”
Claire Haigh, chief executive of Greener Journeys, adds: “Air quality is among the most pressing concerns in towns and cities across the UK, and this vital report highlights the key role of buses as an integral part of the solution.
“Not only are the latest diesel buses cleaner than diesel cars, but taking cars off the road would also help reduce congestion, which causes tailpipe emissions to be increased by up to three or four times.
“Furthermore, putting buses at the centre of the air quality strategy would support UK manufacturing as at least 80% of urban buses sold in the UK are built in the UK.”