Air quality is a critical factor in public health, especially in urban areas where traffic is heaviest. Conventional engine exhausts release pollutants directly at street level, close to our homes, schools and workplaces, and is linked to serious respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. Electrification offers a way to reduce these direct sources of pollution from our communities.

As the operator of one of the UK’s largest fleets, BT and Openreach recognises its responsibility to support the transition to electrification. With a commitment to reaching net zero, and with electric vehicles (EVs) playing a key role in that journey, we have an opportunity to make a positive contribution to the UK’s environmental progress.

BT commissioned this report from Ricardo to go beyond carbon metrics and quantify the tangible health and societal benefits of a national shift to electric transport. By analysing different transition pathways, the report shows how corporate leadership and government policy can work together to save lives and reduce the economic burden on the NHS.

What this report explores:

  • The link between transport and health: How reducing tailpipe emissions can directly improve respiratory and cardiovascular health.
  • National transition scenarios: How the pace of EV adoption - from current trajectories to more ambitious targets - could shape the future of UK air quality.
  • The value of clean air: Using established government frameworks to understand the potential economic benefits of a healthier population across the UK.
  • Real-world evidence: Lessons from place-based initiatives showing how cleaner fleets can lead to fewer medical visits and healthier communities.

Read our insight report

This report is based on independent research carried out by Ricardo and commissioned by BT.