Breath air as clean as the Peak District in the back of a black cab

Some of London‘s iconic black cabs are getting an overhaul in a move to neutralise air pollution and its devastating health impacts.  

Ten of the famous Hackney carriages are to be fitted with cutting-edge filtration devices which will remove the vast majority of toxic chemicals and particles.

The system can remove up to 97 per cent of polluting particulate matter and 95 per cent of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from inside the vehicles after just ten minutes of being switched on.

It will make the air inside the taxi as clean and fresh as the natural hills of the Peak District. 

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Ten of the famous Hackney carriages are to be fitted with cutting-edge filtration devices which will remove the vast majority of toxic chemicals and particles 

Barclays and AirLabs joined forces on the pilot project to filter the air. System removes 97% of polluting particulate matter and 95% of nitrogen dioxide (NO2)

A fleet of the capital’s distinctive cabs are to spearhead the trial of revolutionary new air cleaners in London, one of the UK’s most polluted cities. Air quality inside vehicles can be twice as bad as outside because it has less chance to escape

A fleet of the capital’s distinctive cabs are to spearhead the trial of revolutionary new air cleaners in London, one of the UK’s most polluted cities. 

Air quality inside vehicles can be twice as bad as outside because it has less chance to escape.

The project is being launched by Barclays Bank who will call the taxis ‘Barclays Air Cabs’ during this summer’s 12 week trial. 

For two days – July 3 and 4 – anyone using one of these Air Cabs will get short local journeys free of charge.

Five areas of London, and more than 40 towns and cities across the UK – have reported unsafe levels of nitrogen dioxide in previous tests, above the World Health Organisation’s recommended safety limit of 40 micrograms per cubic metre.

The new filtration technology removes toxic gas molecules from the air stream via activated nano-carbon filters and an air flow system.

The project is being launched by Barclays Bank who will call the taxis ‘Barclays Air Cabs’ during this summer’s 12 week trial

Five areas of London, and more than 40 towns and cities across the UK – have reported unsafe levels of nitrogen dioxide in previous tests, above the World Health Organisation’s recommended safety limit of 40 micrograms per cubic metre

Britain’s worst pollution hotspots was outside Earls Court tube station in Kensington and Chelsea borough in London where the annual average of 129.5 micrograms per cubic metre of air was triple that of the World Health Organization’s 40 mcg limit

Although poor air quality is most often associated with cities, experts say towns all over the country are also putting people’s health at risk because of pollution – though eight of the 10 worst affected roads are in London

The trial will show how the technology could be used in cars and taxis across the UK in the future. 

Matthew Johnson, Chief Science Officer and Co-Founder of Airlabs said: ‘We’ve witnessed worryingly high levels of toxic pollution in cities across the UK in recent years.

‘The concern is only growing for those living and working in pollution hot spots – with London being one of the worst. An ever-increasing number of people are exposed to unhealthy pollution levels. 

‘With the help of Barclays, we’re able to continue to grow as a business and commit ourselves to reducing people’s exposure to air pollution by developing new technologies and new solutions.’

Juliet Rogen, National Head of High Growth & Entrepreneurs at Barclays said: ‘Our job at Barclays is to back UK businesses by helping them grow, and we know that great businesses are often created by coming up with ways of solving the important problems that people really care about, such as air-pollution.

‘This is why we’ve launched our new fleet of Barclays Air cabs, which can provide cleaner and healthier air for both passengers and drivers alike.’

Airlabs technology was used to create four clean air zones at London’s Marylebone Railway Station and the first clean air retail store, the Stella McCartney store on Old Bond Street.