Pollution charge for London drivers – last chance to have your say

Under plans being put forward by transport chiefs in London, drivers of older cars will soon face charges of at least £25 a day to enter the city.

Research by King’s College last year found nitrogen dioxide levels on London’s Oxford Street to be the worst on Earth – a shocking revelation that is prompting new restrictions on the type of vehicles permitted to enter the city.

Diesels emit the bulk of emissions that endanger health, causing asthma, chronic bronchitis, heart disease and cancer, and such vehicles will from 2020 have to meet the strict Euro 6 emissions rating if they are to escape a proposed £12.50 daily 24-hour toll on top of the congestion charge. Most diesel cars have yet to meet Euro 6.

Under the proposed ultra-low emissions zone (ULEZ) motorcycles will continue to be exempt from the congestion charge, but those that do not comply with Euro 3 (pre-2007 models) will pay £12.50 to enter the city. Petrol cars that are not Euro 4 (pre-2006) will also face the charge.

HGvs that do not comply with Euro VI will face a daily charge of £100 in addition to the existing Low Emission Zone (LEZ) and Congestion Charge (CC) – a total cost of over £300 per day.

From 2020 nearly all double deck buses in inner London are expected to be hybrid vehicles and comply with the Euro VI regulations that will exempt them from the emissions charge.

The resulting cleaner air will be of benefit to our lungs, buildings and the wider environment. The greenhouse gas effect of nitrous oxide is hundreds of times greater than carbon dioxide.

New ultra-low emission charges for diesel cars

Car manufacturers do not yet have to use Euro 6 diesel engines by law, although around 500 models already comply with the regulations. Euro 5 regulations tackled diesel exhaust soot (particulate matter) by fitting diesel particulate filters Euro 6 targets nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide (NOx) reducing it from 180mg/km (Euro 5) to 80mg/km.

To check whether your diesel car is Euro 5 or Euro 6, visit carfueldata.direct.gov.uk

The VW golf GTD Euro 6 compliant diesel car is already exempt from the proposed ULEZ pollution charge for London drivers

New ultra-low emission charges for petrol cars

Petrol car drivers wishing to escape the ultra-low emission zone charges will need to use Euro 4 compliant models. New petrol cars have been Euro 4 complaint since 2006.

To check whether your diesel car is Euro 5 or Euro 6, visit carfueldata.direct.gov.uk

New ultra-low emission charges for motorcycles

Motorcycles will need to be Euro 3 compliant to escape the ultra-low emission zone charge. Bikes made after 2007 comply with these regulations.

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