THE Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is proposing an ultra low emission zone (UELZ) for the whole of Greater London.
This will extend the zone beyond its current area defined by the North and South Circular roads.
The Mayor looked at three plans for reducing London pollution:
- Introducing a Greater London Boundary Charge for vehicles driving into London.
- Implementing a low-level daily Clean Air Charge for all but the cleanest vehicles.
- And extending the Ultra Low Emission Zone to cover the whole of Greater London.
However, he has instructed Transport for London (TfL) to work on the latter proposal for implementation in 2023, subject to public and stakeholder consultation. This is a year earlier than when Mayor Khan first mooted the proposal.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:
The triple challenges of tackling toxic air pollution, the climate emergency and congestion mean we need to further reduce emissions from vehicles in London. We simply don’t have time to waste. The climate emergency means we only have a small window of opportunity left to reduce carbon emissions to help save the planet. And despite the world-leading progress we have made over the last few years, there is still far too much toxic air pollution permanently damaging the lungs of young Londoners and leading to thousands of deaths every year, with the greatest number of deaths attributable to air pollution in outer London boroughs.
We have too often seen measures delayed around the world because it’s viewed as being too hard or politically inconvenient, but I’m not willing to put off action we have the ability to implement here in London.
What Is The Effect On SME Fleets In Greater London?
For those businesses operating cars and vans then it’s essential that the vehicles they operate are upgraded to meet the terms of the ULEZ, otherwise they will be subject to a £12.50 daily charge.
The minimum emission standards for cars is
- Petrol: Euro 4
- Diesel: Euro 6
Petrol cars that meet the ULEZ standards are generally those first registered with the DVLA after 2005, although cars that meet the standards have been available since 2001. Diesel cars that meet the standards are generally those first registered with the DVLA after September 2015.
The minimum emission standards for vans is
- Petrol: Euro 4
- Diesel: Euro 6
All new diesel vans sold from September 2016 should meet the Euro 6 standard, while all petrol vans registered with the DVLA from January 2006 meet the Euro 4 standard.
Deciding On What To Do
For further information read our feature Transitioning To EVs: 10 Key Questions SMEs Need To Ask Before Switching.
Photo credit: Greater London Authority
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