Intended to reduce most harmful vehicle exhaust pollutants by more than half, the zone will require vehicles travelling in central London to meet new emission standards (see below) 24 hours a day, seven days a week or pay a daily charge.
Michèle Dix, managing director of planning at Transport for London, said: “London’s air quality has an impact on the health of every person living in this city which is why addressing emissions from road transport is such a priority. The ULEZ is a feasible and effective way to improve air quality not only in central London but it will also have a positive impact across the whole city too. We believe that giving owners of non-compliant vehicles more than five years to prepare means that they have fair warning to decide whether to change their vehicle to one that meets the emissions standards of the zone or pay a daily charge.”
The ULEZ will require:
- Cars and small vans – Euro 6 for diesel engines (registered from 1 September 2015 so 5 years old or less in 2020) and Euro 4 for petrol engines (registered from 1 January 2006 so 14 years old or less in 2020). Non-compliant vehicles could still drive in the zone but they will be required to pay a daily charge of £12.50;
- Large vans and minibuses – Euro 6 for diesel engines (registered from 1 September 2016 so 4 years old or less in 2020) and Euro 4 for petrol engines (registered from 1 January 2007 so 13 years old or less in 2020). Non-compliant vehicles will be required to pay a daily charge of £12.50;
- Heavy goods vehicles, buses and coaches – Euro VI (registered from 1 January 2014 so 6 years old or less in 2020 except TfL buses which are required to meet a higher standard). Non- compliant vehicles will be required to pay a daily charge of £100;
- Motorcycles and similar vehicles – Euro 3 (registered from 1 July 2007 so 13 years old or less in 2020). Non-compliant vehicles will be required to pay a daily charge of £12.50.
The Mayor and TfL said that they have “intentionally confirmed the emission standards over five years in advance of the introduction of the ULEZ in September 2020 to give sufficient warning and preparation time to affected drivers as well as to accelerate the take up of low emission vehicles and stimulate the low emission vehicle market”.
They also announced that residents living in the Ultra Low Emission Zone would have a three-year ‘sunset period’, ensuring that they do not need to comply with the emissions standards until September 2023.
TfL added that it will continue to lobby the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) for further funding from its £500m funding pot to support the uptake of zero emission capable vehicles and put in place supporting charging infrastructure.
In response RAC chief engineer David Bizley said: "Overall, we believe that TfL's proposals for establishing an Ultra Low Emission Zone from 2020 are appropriate and balance the need to reduce nitrogen dioxide emissions with the associated impact on individuals and businesses.
"However, we think it is wrong to penalise motorists and businesses who may have bought small fuel-efficient diesel cars since 2006 in the belief that they were making the right environmental choice at the time due to their vehicle's low carbon dioxide emissions.
"Since then evidence has come to light that the previous generation of diesel emission standards (Euro 4 and 5) that applied to these post-2006 vehicles have not delivered all of the reduction in emissions of nitrogen dioxide and have not been as great as forecast because the internationally agreed tests that the vehicles have to pass have not adequately reflected real world driving.
"The blame for this lies squarely on the shoulders of the scientists, engineers and officials responsible for the Euro standards and not the purchasers of Euro 4 and 5 diesel vehicles, who have bought these in good faith."
