Modelling the impact of bus electrification on air quality and associated health effects in the West Midlands, UK

Air pollution in urban areas is a critical environmental and public health concern. Achieving legal limit values and progress towards WHO health-based guidelines is challenging in urban areas. Transportation is one of the leading causes of air pollution in urban areas. Within urban areas, public transportation systems like buses play a crucial role in sustainable mobility. Responding to the climate severity and its link to urban air pollution, a global push for sustainable transportation is occurring. National Express West Midlands is investing £150 million to purchase 300 electric zero-emission buses, which will be placed throughout the West Midlands region. This will help the region get closer to its target of achieving zero emission bus fleet by 2030, as part of the WM2041 Net Zero strategy. This study will employ an advanced street scale air quality dispersion modelling system (ADMS-Urban) to assess the impact of five hypothetical bus fleet electrification scenarios (i.e. 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% electrification) on the changes of air pollution levels, which may be integrated into the West Midlands Air Quality Lifecourse Assessment tool for the assessment of associated health effects. Street scale air quality maps and electoral ward level health and economic outcomes will be generated. These will provide useful information for the regional Net Zero pathway regarding the potential environmental and health benefits of bus electrification.