It’s something that many Londoners worry about, but the amount of polluted air you breathe could soon be reduced, thanks to a fleet of new black cabs.
Barclays and Airlabs have launched 10 taxis in the UK capital that are equipped with innovative air cleaners.
The cleaners work to remove up to 97% of particulate matter and up to 95% of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from the air inside the taxi in just 10 minutes.
Overall, this results in air that’s as clean as that found in the Peak District National Park.
Juliet Rogan, 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.”
The taxis will be available for hire in London for 12 weeks this summer, and best of all, will be free on July 3-4 for journeys in zones 1 and 2.
Barclays decided to trial the technology in London, as it’s one of the UK’s most congested cities.
However, several other cities, including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Belfast and Oxford also suffer from unsafe levels of NO2, suggesting they could also benefit from similar technology.
It remains unclear whether or not Barclays plans to roll the black cabs out across the country in the future.
How to get a free 'clean air' taxi ride
The clean air taxis will be free from 08:00-20:00 on July 3 and 4.
To claim a free ride, simply flag a cab down, just like you would a normal black cab!
However, keep in mind that the free rides are only for journeys within Zones 1 and 2.
