Skip to main content

Tighter emission regulations proposed for London

London's congestion charge could be tightened in 2013, if new emission recommendations are accepted by mayor Boris Johnson that could see just electric cars escape the levy. Around 19,000 vehicles, mainly those with small diesel engines, currently escape the levy as their engines emit less than 100 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre. From July 2013, emission levels could be cut to less than 75 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre; at present only some hybrid and all-electric cars achieve that level. Own
December 3, 2012 Read time: 1 min
London's congestion charge could be tightened in 2013, if new emission recommendations are accepted by mayor Boris Johnson that could see just electric cars escape the levy.

Around 19,000 vehicles, mainly those with small diesel engines, currently escape the levy as their engines emit less than 100 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre.

From July 2013, emission levels could be cut to less than 75 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre; at present only some hybrid and all-electric cars achieve that level. Owners of cars that meet today’s levels will have a grace period of two years before they lose their exempt status.

London has around 16% of all UK electric cars and some 850 charging points. Car makers 948 General Motors and 838 Nissan have asked the chancellor for more help to boost electric car sales.

Related Content

  • May 25, 2012
    Grant to fund commercialisation of PbC batteries for micro-hybrid vehicles
    Axion Power International, the developer of advanced lead-¬carbon PbC batteries and energy storage systems, has been awarded a US$150,000 grant from the US Department of Energy (DoE) to fund a commercialisation plan for the use of its PbC batteries in a low-cost, high-efficiency dual battery architecture for micro-hybrid vehicles.
  • August 5, 2013
    Travel times halve for tolling converts
    The Port Mann Bridge in Vancouver is a prime example of how the latest ITS systems enable new infrastructures to be built and paid for while still providing additional user benefits. Vancouver has 2.2 million inhabitants and, like so many major cities, is divided into two by a river, the Frazer river. This combination makes Vancouver the second most congested city in North America and the most congested in Canada. Through the middle of the city runs the Trans-Canadian Highway 1 which crosses the Frazer Riv
  • December 16, 2016
    Audi in the spotlight over emissions
    Audi's top-selling model released excessive toxic diesel emissions in results from lab tests run by the European Commission and seen by Reuters, raising suspicions of wrongdoing at Volkswagen's luxury division. The results threaten to embroil Audi in the scandal that has engulfed the company since it admitted cheating US emissions tests with software to mask nitrogen oxides (NOx). The lab tests run by the European Commission's Joint Research Center (JRC) in August showed the latest Euro 6 diesel gener
  • December 26, 2023
    Atlantic City refuses to gamble on road safety
    US city makes traffic management improvements to reduce fatalities on Atlantic Avenue