I really didn't mean it to sound like I doubted those BBC figures for London, which it might have done, just that I really don't know how they were measured
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I hope Manchester does invest in some more new & cleaner buses: much of the existing fleets seem very polluting. There has been a north/south regional operator divide (largely between Firstbus & stagecoach) since deregulation of the bus service many years ago and some newer, seemingly cleaner buses (some bendy) operate mostly on 'frequent service' northern routes, but both north & south still having many small operators running older stock, especially on local routes, in the scrummage to run Manchester buses... I've heard it said that lorries and buses are usually the biggest source of pollution on city roads.
Extending the tram network may help, but it will never be as extensive as the London rail network and many of our local rail routes are long disused by trains, such as the local 'fallowfield loop' now an offroad cycle & footway many miles in length! I think most people are extremely cynical that public transport can be improved enough to provide a fast, regular and extensive service, though they'd probably hate to have to use it on principle - its not as accessible or widely accepted as, say, the London tube network.
Re electric cars in Manchester, I remember keeping up with what looked like a G-wiz once on the Torq, though it was at nighttime!
Stuart.