Hi-tech cats eyes can suck up 30% of vehicle emissions at road sides

The poor quality of the air we breathe has become a huge issue for many pockets of Britain in recent years. 

Cities such as London and Bristol are already planning to ban diesel cars from some roads to cull the emissions in built-up areas.

But there might be another solution that doesn’t require the introduction of low emission zones, rush-hour vehicle restrictions and car bans.

Revolutionary filters developed in Britain can be installed along the middle of the road like cats eyes – and claim to capture around 30 per cent of dangerous pollutants and recycle them into 99 per cent clean air at the roadside.

Tackling vehicle emissions: A revolutionary new system features cats eyes in the road that can suck up 30% of harmful pollution produced by cars and recycle it into clean air

The new system has been designed and created by tech entrepreneur and founder of Pollution Solution, Thomas Delgado and are set to be trialled for the first time in the capital.

He claims they have the potential to save thousands of lives every year.

Estimates state around 40,000 people die prematurely from pollution-related illnesses in the UK.

Recent studies have claimed that dirty air caused around 64,000 deaths in the UK in 2015, including 17,000 fatal cases of heart and artery disease.

Another 29,000 British deaths are also believed to be linked to the filthy air we breathe, causing issues including cancer, diabetes and chronic lung disease.

Air pollution is also believed to cost the NHS £20billion each year as the health system battles against the increasing issue. 

Delgado says his invention would reduce all these figures by recycling the dirty air produced by cars into almost pure oxygen. 

The pod heads in the road suck up the pollution, transport it underground via pipes to a roadside air station that filters it so it can be released as 99% clean air

The pod heads in the road suck up the pollution, transport it underground via pipes to a roadside air station that filters it so it can be released as 99% clean air

The installations are pricey but take just a day to install, according to the creator, Thomas Delgado

The installations are pricey but take just a day to install, according to the creator, Thomas Delgado

To fit the system, a small channel is cut into the middle of the road and air duct pipes are laid and connected to the cats eyes – or ‘pod heads’ – which sit partially submerged in the road to prevent water flowing into them. 

The pipework is then connected underground to an air station which in located on the side of the road and is roughly the size of a large bin or phone box. 

The air station is then connected to power and the system is ready to operate. 

The creators claim an entire system can be installed in under 24 hours.

Once operational, the system works by pulling in vast amounts of air whilst vehicles sit idle (or are in slow traffic) above. 

The filthy air emitted from exhausts pipes enters the pod head and travels through the pipework and into the air station. 

And it’s not just exhaust emissions that the systems can reduce.

The filters can capture brake dust particles as well as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter generated by engines.

The polluted air passes through a series of scrubbers and filters within the unit and then leaves as ’99 per cent’ clean air.

Pollution Solution is currently trying to source a partner for the project, which is due to be piloted in London

Pollution Solution is currently trying to source a partner for the project, which is due to be piloted in London

Delgado said the impact of low emission zones like the London ULEZ won't have a big enough impact on reducing vehicle pollution

Delgado said the impact of low emission zones like the London ULEZ won’t have a big enough impact on reducing vehicle pollution

He also warned that the uptake of electric cars is not rapid enough to prevent the 40,000 premature deaths in the UK each year reportedly caused by dirty air inhalation

He also warned that the uptake of electric cars is not rapid enough to prevent the 40,000 premature deaths in the UK each year reportedly caused by dirty air inhalation 

Delgado claims he’s already in discussions with local authorities and a major highways agency to install them across the country.  

The devices are due to be piloted in London at a cost of around £90,000, though Pollution Solution is currently seeking additional commercial partners to rollout schemes across the UK.

It wants to install the systems mainly outside schools or at traffic lights, pedestrian crossings and busy junctions. 

‘This is a pro-active and robust approach to resolving the health crisis that we are currently facing,’ Mr Delgado explained. 

‘Millions of pounds have been spent across hundreds of studies and they all have very similar conclusions – road pollution is directly causing illnesses and deaths. 

‘With over 40,000 new cases of people suffering from serious pollution related health related illnesses every year, this is no time to procrastinate, we must take action now across the whole of the country, starting with the worst affected areas first.’

It is unrealistic to think that these vehicles will be phased out overnight and we therefore require an interim solution to ensure we meet legal air limits now 

Thomas Delgado, Pollution Solution founder

The entrepreneur said that while the government has pledged £220million to a Clean Air Fund to target vehicle emissions, to date very little of this allocation has been invested into innovative technologies.

Instead, the cash flow has been directed towards the implementation of low emission zones and road infrastructure to improve traffic flow.

Delgado said more needs to be done to tackle the issue and that clean air zones such as the London ULEZ and uptake of electric cars won’t have a significant enough impact to drive down premature deaths.

‘Just 0.5 per cent of UK registered vehicles are electric and the remaining 99.5 per cent are fossil fuelled,’ he explained.

‘It is unrealistic to think that these vehicles will be phased out overnight and we therefore require an interim solution to ensure we meet legal air limits now. 

‘It is proven that living nearby a busy polluting road reduces life expectancy as well as the value of your home. 

‘The new Ultra-Low Emission Zone will certainly reduce these problems, but it is inevitable that many vehicles will simply take new routes to avoid the fines, this will move the problem from one place to another.’ 

It was confirmed this week that the UK is set to get its first ever 24-hour zero-emission street.

Transport chiefs in the City of London have backed plans to fine drivers of petrol and diesel cars £130 (though this will be reduced to £65 if paid within two weeks) if they’re snapped by automatic number plate recognition cameras using the road.

The rules will be enforced on a 350-metre (383 yards) stretch of Beech Street – much of which runs under the Barbican Estate, pending approval by Transport for London.

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