Tech fitted to Bradford buses to cut pollution 'not working'
The failure of the technology means roads like Manchester Road and Queens Road have illegal levels of air pollution.
TECHNOLOGY that was supposed to reduce emissions from Bradford’s buses has “contributed significantly to the exceedance of legal pollution limits” in parts of Bradford.
Emission abatement technology systems fitted to buses when Bradford adopted its Clean Air Zone are “not working” according to a report going before Councillors on Tuesday.
And the failure of the technology means roads like Manchester Road and Queens Road have illegal levels of air pollution.
Bradford Council is now pushing for funding from Government for more zero emission buses in light of the failure of the retrofitted buses.
In 2018 Bradford Council was issued a ministerial direction by Government, meaning it would have to improve its air quality to legal levels.
Plans for a Clean Air Zone in the city were announced in 2020, and would involve the most polluting vehicles being charged to enter the zone.
The Government awarded £39m to the Council to help implement the zone, and this money could be used to provide grants to companies to upgrade HGVs, taxis and buses.
Bus operators were offered grants of up to £16,000 to convert the engines of buses to ones that would meet Clean Air Zone emission standards.
At a meeting of Bradford Council’s Regeneration and Environment Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday evening, members will be given an update on various sustainability schemes.
Referring to the retrofitted buses, the report says: “The Government has published research findings on buses that were retrofitted with CAZ approved emission abatement systems showing that these systems are not working.
“Council assessments show that retrofitted buses contribute significantly to the exceedance of legal limits on Manchester Road and Queens Road.
“The Council assessments have been submitted to Government and discussions are ongoing regarding additional funding that may be required to help Bradford achieve compliance with legal limits for air quality in the shortest possible timeframe.”
The Government research referred to in the report was published December.
It found that the retrofitting could reduce Nitrogen Oxides produced by buses. But it added: “However, multiple technical and human factors lead to variations in performance and widespread underperformance.
“The evidence presented shows that real-world NOX emissions from buses with retrofitted SCR systems are higher than expected.
“Evidence also indicates that the fraction of NOX emitted as NO2 is greater for retrofitted buses compared to non-retrofitted buses.
“Recent measurements of ambient NO2 suggest that in some locations where retrofitted buses make up a substantial proportion of local road traffic, roadside NO2 concentrations could increase because SCR technology increases the fraction of NOX emitted as NO2.
“There is a risk that in some situations, efforts to reduce NOX emissions could cause emissions of ammonia to increase.”
When asked for more details, a Council spokesperson said: “The central Government funding for bus retrofit was paused in April 2023 under the last Government whilst they undertook an investigation into the performance of buses fitted with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology.
“The report was published in mid-December 2024 under the new Government which details the outcomes of the investigation.
“The Council has demonstrated that further investment in zero emission buses will help Bradford achieve compliance with legal air quality limits.
“These Council assessments have been submitted to Government and the Leader is already working to try and secure Government investment in zero emission buses.”