London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced that London’s new Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) could be introduced as early as 2019 in the latest attempt to reduce air pollution across the capital.
Fully electric vehicles will be exempt from paying the future ULEZ charge
This will be a year earlier than previously anticipated, with the roll-out initially focused on inner London, before expanding to both the North and South Circular starting from 2020.
Mr Khan stated:
“Just as in the 1950s, air pollution in London today is literally killing Londoners. But unlike the smoky pollution of the past, today’s pollution is a hidden killer.
“The scale of the failure to tackle the problem is demonstrated by the failure of the Government and the previous Mayor to meet legal pollution limits. Urgent action is now needed to ensure Londoners no longer have to fear the very air we breathe.”
Dr Ben Lane, Director of Next Green Car added:
“If we are to significantly improve air quality in our country’s cities and towns, we need just this type of bold and visionary measure. It is for this reason that we fully back the new London Mayor’s announcement to both widen the area of the planned Ultra Low Emission Zone and also to implement it well before 2020.
“We do, however, raise on note of caution as the proposed ULEZ standards are highly complex and may lead to confusion as to which vehicles are exempt from paying the charge. In addition, it is not immediately clear on TfL’s information website that all fully electric vehicles will be exempt from paying the ULEZ charge as they are for the existing Congestion Charge.”
Read more: Next Green Car