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.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Debating contactless toll charging by smartphone
    April 25, 2012
    Developments in the mass transit sector could provide indicators of potential for greater use of mobile consumer electronic devices for charging and tolling, according to Consult Hyperion’s Mike Burden. However, opinion among toll system suppliers is divided. Jason Barnes reports The combination of mass-market devices and their protocols, typified by smartphones featuring near field communication (NFC), points to some exciting cross-fertilisation possibilities in the charging and tolling sector, says Consul
  • M2M and partner consortium developing infrastructure for electric vehicle charging
    October 24, 2012
    Telekom Austria Group M2M and its partner consortium is working to develop a complete infrastructure for the charging of Electric Vehicles (EVs) which includes navigation, billing and authorisation, load management and balancing, and reservations (including reservation with payment in order to stop charging point blocking).
  • Mass production zero emission vehicle to be released
    September 21, 2012
    Following the success of its Nissan LEAF electric car, Nissan is now in the final development phase of its second mass produced zero emission vehicle: the Nissan e-NV200 compact van. Nissan has been working with FedEx Express since late last year to develop the vehicle with the delivery company seen as an ideal partner because of its fleet of 130 all-electric vehicles globally. The company says the electric van will boast an all-electric drivetrain based on the Nissan LEAF. Its power comes from a lithium-io
  • European Commission: tighter rules for safer/cleaner cars
    December 12, 2017
    The European Commission (EC), European Parliament and the Council have reached a political agreement on the commission proposal from January 2016 to raise the quality level and independence of type-approval and testing before a car is placed on the market. It would enable the EC to be able to initiate EU-wide recalls and impose penalties on manufacturers or technical services of up to €30,000 (£26,000) per non-compliant car.