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News >>>Adelan fuel cells extend solar energy storage capacity in Chinese homes

Posted  March 6 2020

Adelan fuel cell technology is set to energise China’s homes in a new clean technology collaboration. Under a deal backed by InnovateUK, a complete 24-hour solar home power supply system has emerged.

Supporting a solar power and battery system developed by a Jiangsu-based partner, Adelan fuel cells add back-up power and resilience to create a hybrid unit that delivers clean, quiet and round-the-clock power.

Development of the ‘SOFcSOLar’ (SOFSOL) home power product offers significant market opportunities both in the domestic Chinese market and beyond.

Renewable energy has experienced rapid growth in China and batteries are typically being used to store any excess capacity. The problem is battery weight, volume and cost. Fuel cells are able to enhance the battery storage capabilities to give many times more storage and back-up capacity for the same size and cost. In addition, the Adelan fuel cell also potentially provides heat for hot water, another significant source of energy demand in domestic properties.

Adelan CEO Dr Michaela Kendall, explains: “Balancing renewable energy supply with power demand is one of the key challenges we need to overcome to achieve the low-carbon transition. Coupling renewables, storage and fuel cells in this system maximises the opportunity for renewable energy contributions. More importantly, by solving the variability problem, the fuel cell hybrid system works with people’s lives and means that renewables are a viable solution. In the same way, our proven microtubular SOFC technology can use easily available forecourt fuels like propane or LPG and making this a usable, real-world approach that can be widely deployed.”

The project was jointly funded by InnovateUK and co-financed by the two technology partners. The £400k project was led by Adelan’s Dr Kevin Kendall FRS with Guo Junping leading Chinese company partners. On completion of the project Guo Junping said, “China is leading the world in fuel cell and hydrogen technology development to support clean energy deployment around the world and protect global citizens from the scourge of air pollution. Multi-billion pound investments into fuel cell technology in China demonstrate a level of commitment unparalleled elsewhere in the world.  Respected experts like Adelan help to accelerate China towards clearing air pollution globally”.

Alongside the core hybrid energy system product, a new company is being established to commercialise the product in the Chinese home market. Other new products and prototypes also emerged from the partnership, where UK Midlands and Chinese manufacturing collaboration was supported.

Commenting on the project Dr Kendall said: “Projects like this are critical if we are to maximise the economic and environmental benefits that are possible from commercialising home-gown UK technology. Hybrid systems that are enabled by Adelan fuel cell technology will allow us to tap into what is widely expected to become a huge global market.”

Adelan Fuel Cell Technology

To discover more about how Adelan can support your future energy ambitions or to meet your requirements for clean, quiet and reliable energy for remote, mobile or any other applications, please contact Dr Kendall and the rest of the Adelan team at:

Adelan Ltd, 15 Weekin Works, 112-116 Park Hill Road, Birmingham, B17 9HD (UK)

Tel: +44 (0)121 427 8033

About Adelan

First founded in The Midlands, Birmingham-based Adelan pioneered microtubular solid oxide fuel cell (mSOFC) technology more than 30 years ago. Adelan’s patented and scalable technology gives the fuel cell unprecedented flexibility, allowing the system to run cleanly on a range of commonly available fuels such as LPG, natural gas or propane/butane mix. As a result, though Adelan fuel cells can also run on hydrogen, they offer considerable additional operational flexibility and ease of use benefits whilst retaining a small, compact and lightweight footprint.

 

 

Blog > A simple clean air, low-carbon energy hack

Posted 5 Nov 2019

With the global cleantech sector expected to engage $60 trillion of investments in order to help the world achieve its 2050 carbon targets, why it is that home grown UK cleantech often fails to reach even local markets?

Certainly there is no shortage of commercial opportunity in Birmingham – with the clean air zone, the forthcoming Commonwealth games and HS2 all on the doorstep.  Cleantech firms like fuel cell innovators Adelan should be thriving. But the reality is that home-grown pioneers are not supported to achieve their commercial potential in the UK, due to market bottlenecks and a top-down approach.

This is not because UK companies are sub-standard or their technology innovations do not support vitally important global objectives.

In fact, one of the key reasons is that long-established energy sectors like fossil fuels and nuclear power continue to receive government subsidy, while UK-developed cleantech does not.  Giving this subsidy to fossil energy is supposed to keep people and goods moving, keep energy for businesses competitive and keep the lights on, but that’s not true.  It penalises breakthrough technologies by making them appear more expensive, and slows them from reaching UK markets.

It is clear that to combat climate change more needs to be done to realign market structures. What support is available to help build up clean energy businesses has not generated the right results. In the UK the structures that bind the publicly-funded networks and supporting bodies that do exist mean that only a fraction of any headline public investments reach disruptive innovators themselves. UK growth investment to grow these businesses is needed immediately if they are to reach the necessary scale required.

Dramatic change is possible. Germany alone, for example, recently pledged some $60 million of investment to get back on track with its national climate targets. But Germany’s finance initiative also comes with a series of practical measures designed to target society’s worst carbon excesses. Higher taxes on cars and air travel, cheaper rail tickets, bans on new oil heaters by 2026 and higher carbon prices all feature in this comprehensive programme. Cleaner alternatives are funded to replace them, and ground-up programmes develop promising cleantech until it reaches the market and can commercialise.

In China, and throughout Asia, subsidies play an important role in encouraging businesses to develop cleantech and that structure is yielding results. New analysis from research firm Global Data indicates that China is by far the leader when it comes to rolling out its electric vehicle fleet. It’s way ahead of Europe.

Certainly there are mechanisms by which local market demand could be better connected to local low-carbon and clean energy technology entrepreneurs and businesses.

Green businesses must be more accurately defined and mapped by existing business networks – a business is not just green because it self-defines as eco or green. There are radical businesses that will lead the way towards a new green economy, there are migratory businesses that will adopt and move towards sustainable action, and there are businesses that will fail because they are based on an unsustainable model. The UK has a very poor record in commercialising green tech.

Green and low-carbon leaders must also be supported to create real change. They must be encouraged to share successful case studies. Trials of new technologies developed locally must parallel imported technology programmes – for example, almost all fuel cell and hydrogen technology projects in the UK rely on imported fuel cells. This restricts the skills and talent pipelines in the UK and undermines local cleantech businesses.

To support positive change, the vast public procurement that goes on within the region can be harnessed to rely more on local businesses in sectors that support the local green growth agenda. There are significant existing opportunities to roll out clean technology in the region, but these are currently overlooked and missed.

Such a strategy would accelerate the growth of existing local green and cleantech businesses. Simultaneously it would help to harness resident intellectual capital by allowing universities to support local networks and work with smaller businesses instead of actively courting large corporate entities for vital R&D funding.

There is no time for business as usual. The story of Boulton and Watt provides some important historical context. They succeeded – the backer, the team, the technology and the innovative business model – based on coal efficiency savings. Reduced fossil fuel use is even more urgent today.

Here in Birmingham there is plenty of new funding to explore what should be done, but few schemes directly funding the innovators and businesses that can achieve the necessary change. One highlight is a new West Midlands initiative that Birmingham City Council has launched to engage local cleantech solutions like Adelan fuel cells in defining the Route to Zero Carbon (R20).

Key to solving the city’s climate and clean air challenges will be identifying new funding to resource the innovators and the technologies developed in the city, for the city. Better engagement between local policymakers, businesses and technologists will surely make all the difference. But funding those new relationships – not providing money to fossil energy – must be the priority.

 

Adelan Fuel Cell Technology

About Adelan

First founded in The Midlands, Birmingham-based Adelan pioneered microtubular solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology more than 30 years’ ago. Adelan’s patented and scalable technology gives the fuel cell unprecedented flexibility, allowing the system to run on a range of commonly available fuels such as LPG, natural gas or propane/butane mix. As a result, though Adelan fuel cells can also run on hydrogen, they offer considerable additional operational flexibility and ease of use benefits whilst retaining a small, compact and lightweight foot print.

To discover more about how Adelan can support your future energy ambitions or to meet your requirements for clean, quiet and reliable energy for remote, mobile or any other applications, please contact Dr Kendall and the rest of the Adelan team at:

Adelan Ltd, 15 Weekin Works, 112-116 Park Hill Road, Birmingham, B17 9HD (UK)

Tel: +44 (0)121 427 8033

 

Blog > Billionaires backing fuel cells

Posted 26 July 2019

Billionaire Elon Musk, the brains behind PayPal, is well known for his interest in clean transport solutions. He’s continued backing Tesla battery electric vehicles, as well as invested heavily in his vacuum tube train system Hyperloop and even space travel. It’s also well known that Musk has a pretty low opinion of fuel cell technologies, even reportedly going so far as to call them ‘fool cells’.

However, while Musk is one high profile billionaire to have written off fuel cells he is very much in the minority. Many others are making plays into the fuel cell technology sector, some with much fan fair and others very discretely and below the radar.

Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, the world’s most wealthy individual, is already investing in FC technology. In May 2019, for example, fuel cell company Plug Power Inc. announced that it has reached an agreement with Amazon to utilize fuel cells and hydrogen technology at select warehouse locations, powering industrial equipment such as forklift trucks. Additionally, under the terms of the deal, Amazon and Plug Power announced they would begin working together on technology collaboration. Bezos has also joined Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Jack Ma and others in backing a $1 billion low carbon energy technology fund, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, which is supporting a range of low-carbon technologies.

Even in the UK, the country’s richest man, Ineos CEO Jim Ratcliffe, is exploring hydrogen fuel cells for his Projekt Grenadier 4×4 vehicle. According to documents seen by Autocar, a potential hydrogen fuel cell version of the vehicle is being planned and an engineering study is scheduled to begin shortly to “assess the feasibility and production of a hydrogen fuel cell-powered 4×4”.

Jo Bamford, son of JCB billionaire Lord Bamford, is also looking at hydrogen and fuels, having recently launched his Ryse Hydrogen Ltd venture aimed at refuelling fuel cell buses and other vehicles.

Cash-rich technology titans like Bezos are not the only ones betting on fuel cell technologies. According to a recent global survey of 1,000 automotive sector executives, more than half identify fuel cell electric vehicles as the number one key trend for transportation until 2025.

The survey, from consultancy firm KPMG, notes that although fully electric drivetrains dominate the rankings, the future technology roadmap is likely to see multiple drivetrain solutions emerge over the coming years. Indeed, the survey is projecting a similar split across battery EVs at 26%, fuel cell EVs at 25%, with internal combustion engines and hybrids on 25% and 24%, respectively, by 2040.

Certainly, like batteries, fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are already a commercial reality.  Fuel cell models are available from manufacturers like Honda, Toyota and Hyundai and many more are set to emerge in the coming years. In particular, the ability of fuel cells to deliver long range and rapid refuelling represents a key advantage over their battery-powered vehicle equivalents. Fuel cells are also able to power heavy duty commercial vehicles, something battery technologies currently cannot do. Perhaps more importantly, fuel cells like the micro-tubular SOFCs pioneered by Adelan have the capability to use existing fuels like LPG that are already commonly available on fuel station forecourts. This eliminates the need for new fuelling or battery charging infrastructure and means that low-emission vehicles can be adopted immediately to address the climate and air quality crisis that is affecting our towns, cities and even our whole planet.

Fuel cells may not appeal to the mercurial Musk, but for all his genius it seems he is distinctly underpowered when it comes to betting on our energy future.

Adelan Fuel Cell Technology

About Adelan

First founded in The Midlands, Birmingham-based Adelan pioneered microtubular solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology more than 30 years’ ago. Adelan’s patented and scalable technology gives the fuel cell unprecedented flexibility, allowing the system to run on a range of commonly available fuels such as LPG, natural gas or propane/butane mix. As a result, though Adelan fuel cells can also run on hydrogen, they offer considerable additional operational flexibility and ease of use benefits whilst retaining a small, compact and lightweight foot print.

To discover more about how Adelan can support your future energy ambitions or to meet your requirements for clean, quiet and reliable energy for remote, mobile or any other applications, please contact Dr Kendall and the rest of the Adelan team at:

Adelan Ltd, 15 Weekin Works, 112-116 Park Hill Road, Birmingham, B17 9HD (UK)

Tel: +44 (0)121 427 8033


View our Timeline
  • Founded Adelan and made first Zirconia microtubes

  • Built first large demonstrator

  • First sales of demonstrators

  • First large commercial project; lab in Birmingham

  • First small demonstrator

  • The first sale of 250W system and UAV demonstrator

  • Portable Power Pack for camper van demonstrator

    Adelan microtubular solid oxide fuel cell battery range extender

  • Portable Power Pack for LNG truck demonstrator

  • Mobile and nano chargers

  • mCHP demonstrator

View opportunities at Adelan

Our Media

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Calor has partnered with Adelan, a global developer of mSOFC technology, to help pave the way for low-carbon construction vehicles.

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With the Commonwealth Games underway in Birmingham this month, Adelan explores future of mobility in the region

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Adelan maps the hydrogen-fuelled HGV supply chains, and finds the majority close to home.

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News >>> Enabling UK EV supply chains using hydrogen technology

An Adelan-led feasibility study will verify the key role the Midlands vehicular supply chain can play in achieving net-zero by utilising fuel cells.

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News >>> Construction goes net zero with Adelan hydrogen technology

Adelan technology is powering the next generation of construction vehicles in a partnership with Calor and construction equipment OEMs and hire giants.
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Fuel cell company Adelan talks to Genesis Energy about the breakthrough hydrogen economy and the future of fuel cells in New Zealand.

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News >>> Include, Invest, Change #IWD2022

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News >>> Midlands Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Network

The Midlands Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Network grows the regional hydrogen economy, by connecting businesses and organisations on the ground across the region.

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News >>> Adelan featured in Birmingham Business Magazine

Adelan has been featured in the November/December 2021 issue of Birmingham Business Magazine.

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News >>> Adelan sync fuel cell tech supply-demand in The Midlands, UK

Adelan paves the way for hydrogen trucks in The Midlands with a newly funded Department for Transport project.

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News >>> Adelan H2 car lease exceeds driver expectations

As the historic UK Hydrogen Strategy arrives this week, hydrogen cars are made available for lease from Adelan, to anyone trying to decarbonise their travel at work or play.

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News>>>Adelan drives hydrogen fuel demand in the Midlands with Toyota Mirai lease

With Birmingham’s clean air zone (CAZ) live today, Adelan zero emission fuel cell vehicles offer the opportunity to go one step further and scrub the air cleaner as they drive.

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News >>> Adelan drives hydrogen technologies onto the levelling-up agenda

High profile roles on key business and technology bodies mean Adelan is driving the levelling-up agenda to recognise technical leadership in The Midlands for a green recovery, with a focus on hydrogen innovation.

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News >>> Calor supports Adelan technology for low carbon off-grid power generation

In order to replace diesel generators in clean air zones, Calor is providing BioLPG to Adelan fuel cell trials today to achieve the same carbon reductions as future fuels like hydrogen.

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News >>> Celebrating 25 years as a world class hydrogen economy pioneer, from the UK

Adelan, the UK’s oldest fuel cell firm, is celebrating 25 years championing a clean energy technology that is set to transform lives for the better.

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News >>> UK Research and Innovation funding for Midlands energy transition

As a UK Government programme roadmaps the decarbonisation of industry clusters in The Midlands, fuel cells and hydrogen are set to feature in line with the UK Ten Point Plan.

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BLOG > COVID-19 and the green recovery: The clean air connection

The worldwide lockdown revealed the true extent of global air pollution for the first time. Despite the economic chaos, it provides huge impetus to tackle a global health challenge.

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News >>> Adelan CEO heads up green growth strategy group

Adelan’s Dr Michaela Kendall is to chair the low-carbon steering group set to boost green recovery in the Midlands by implementing an environmental technologies action plan.

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Event >> COVID-19: The Midlands Green Recovery

Delivered in collaboration with the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, discover how fuel cells and hydrogen will support the Green Recovery in the Midlands.

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News >>> Adelan CEO is Mission Innovation Hydrogen Champion for UK

Adelan chief executive Dr Michaela Kendall has been named as one of twenty-one Mission Innovation Champions around the world in recognition of her role in the clean energy transition.

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News >>> Powering Birmingham’s future: Adelan demonstrates green growth in low carbon sector

Low carbon technology business Adelan is featured in Birmingham Chamber of Commerce magazine Chamberlink.

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News >>> Adelan CEO appears in Leaders Council Podcast

Michaela Kendall from Adelan appears in Leaders Council podcast alongside Geoff Hurst.

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News >>> Fuel duty change boosts fuel cell business case compared to diesel

Changes to taxes on diesel are expected to drive home the economic case for fuel cells in the construction sector. Add in that fuel cells are clean, quiet and efficient and the business case is compelling.

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News >>>Adelan CEO celebrated with leading female entrepreneur award

Fuel cell pioneer Dr Michaela Kendall has been honoured on International Women’s Day with recognition as a leading female entrepreneur.

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News >>>Adelan teams up with BCU to launch Birmingham fuel cell incubator

Adelan and BCU team up to support new green technology businesses to grow in Birmingham, targeting local problems like climate change and air pollution.

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News >>>Adelan fuel cells extend solar energy storage capacity in Chinese homes

A solar/battery/fuel cell hybrid energy system is using Adelan mSOFC technology to power up Chinese homes, with the potential of delivering round-the-clock clean power and heat.

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Blog > Adelan helps HS2 to go low carbon using fuel cells

Hydrogen ready fuel cells can be used to almost eliminate carbon emissions from portable and remote power generation on building sites during the construction phase of HS2, even using hydrocarbons.

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News >>> HS2 makes cost savings using Adelan fuel cell tech

New analysis confirms that Adelan fuel cells offer considerable savings for mega construction projects like the UK’s HS2 rail project. With benefits across greenhouse gas emissions, air quality, noise pollution and even operational costs, Adelan’s mSOFCs are a game changer for large infrastructure projects.

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Blog > Adelan Fuel Cells featured in Unmanned Systems Technology Magazine

It’s all in the tubes. A unique take on the solid oxide fuel cell holds great promise for fixed-wing UAVs.

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Blog > A simple clean air, low-carbon energy hack

Fuel cell pioneers Adelan led a cleantech brainstorming event recently in a bid to solve some of society’s biggest challenges. Spearheading the event at STEAMHouse, Birmingham’s leading business incubator, their conclusions were disturbingly simple: Back local low carbon innovators.

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Event >> Adelan front and centre of Birmingham clean-tech revolution

Technology pioneers Adelan are headlining Birmingham’s Greentech event next month as the city showcases the world’s best clean technology at its premier sustainability show.

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Blog > Billionaires backing fuel cells

Maverick billionaire Elon Musk may not be betting on fuel cells for the future, but given that the majority of his peers are it looks like this visionary will ultimately be on the wrong side of history.

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Event >> Cleaning up urban air with fuel cells

Birmingham Mayor Andy Street is backing technologies like Adelan fuel cells to solve the crisis of urban air pollution and the climate change challenge.

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News >>> All Energy goes heavy on fuel cells to decarbonise UK

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Blog > China stimulates fuel cell and hydrogen economies

The spectacular success of today’s battery technologies has prompted a significant shift towards enabling technologies, in particular hydrogen and fuel cells for electric vehicle range extenders and air con APUs.

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Standing room only as leading fuel cell and hydrogen industry players gathered at Birmingham’s NEC recently to build on the UK’s national hydrogen and fuel cell development strategy.

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Adelan is the longest running fuel cell company in Britain and is the only fuel cell company in Birmingham. As Chair of the Midlands Hydrogen and Fuel cell Network, the Adelan CEO Michaela Kendall describes how fuel cells are being developed in the region and discusses Adelan’s manufacturing plans for future sustainable growth.

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Event >> Adelan completes successful fuel cell trade mission to China

Adelan Ltd, the UK’s oldest fuel cell company, has completed a successful trade mission to China. Meeting with high-level decision-makers from two Chinese provinces earlier this month, Adelan chief executive officer Dr Michaela Kendall garnered commercial interest in their patented fuel cells from some of the world’s largest technology players.

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News >>> UK fuel cell pioneer plans for growth with expanded site

Reflecting exciting market developments, Adelan Ltd – the UK’s oldest fuel cell firm – has relocated to larger premises. Pioneers of microtubular solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology, Adelan is rapidly expanding to accommodate anticipated growth in demand for its clean, quiet and robust fuel cell designs.

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Event >> How fuel cells and hydrogen change the atmosphere

Professor Michaela Kendall discusses how the use of fuel cells and hydrogen can change the atmosphere. She also highlights the founding of the Midlands Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Network, a commercially-led, inclusive interest group which aims to consolidate the strengths of the hydrogen and fuel cell sector in the region.

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Since the VW emissions scandal broke, air pollution in cities has remained a top public health concern. With such stories rarely out of the news, you could be forgiven for thinking that something has recently emerged from medical science illustrating the dangers of combustion-generated air pollution to human health.

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