BusinessGreen report that the business case for buying electric vehicles in London became even stronger yesterday, after the Mayor of London announced plans to make all diesel vehicles pay the Congestion Charge.
Transport for London (TfL) confirmed it will replace the existing Greener Vehicle and Electric Vehicle Discounts with a stricter Ultra Low Emission Discount (ULED) from July 1.
Cars currently qualify for the Greener Vehicle Discount if they emit 100g/km of CO2 or less and meet the Euro 5 standard for air quality, meaning some low emission diesel cars are exempt from the charge.
But to qualify for the ULED, vehicles will have to either be pure electric or emit 75g/km or less of CO2 and meet the Euro 5 emission standard for air quality. TfL expects that no diesel car on the market would meet the new criteria for the discount now or in the immediate future.
Matthew Pencharz, the Mayor of London's adviser on the environment, said the move was specifically designed to curb the growing number of diesel vehicles on London's roads.
A Euro 4 diesel car emits about 22 times as much particulate matter as the equivalent petrol car, but sales of diesel vehicles in the capital have climbed up from a 10 per cent to a 50 per cent market share over the past decade, partly as a result of low carbon incentives.
"These changes are in line with the Mayor's aim to improve air quality in London by reducing emissions from private vehicles and promoting the further development of low emission vehicles," said Pencharz in a statement. "We want to encourage the continued development of these technologies, while also protecting the benefits to traffic flow in the centre of London that the charge provides."
TfL also confirmed diesel drivers already receiving the Greener Vehicle Discount will continue to be eligible until June 2016.
Transport for London (TfL) confirmed it will replace the existing Greener Vehicle and Electric Vehicle Discounts with a stricter Ultra Low Emission Discount (ULED) from July 1.
Cars currently qualify for the Greener Vehicle Discount if they emit 100g/km of CO2 or less and meet the Euro 5 standard for air quality, meaning some low emission diesel cars are exempt from the charge.
But to qualify for the ULED, vehicles will have to either be pure electric or emit 75g/km or less of CO2 and meet the Euro 5 emission standard for air quality. TfL expects that no diesel car on the market would meet the new criteria for the discount now or in the immediate future.
Matthew Pencharz, the Mayor of London's adviser on the environment, said the move was specifically designed to curb the growing number of diesel vehicles on London's roads.
A Euro 4 diesel car emits about 22 times as much particulate matter as the equivalent petrol car, but sales of diesel vehicles in the capital have climbed up from a 10 per cent to a 50 per cent market share over the past decade, partly as a result of low carbon incentives.
"These changes are in line with the Mayor's aim to improve air quality in London by reducing emissions from private vehicles and promoting the further development of low emission vehicles," said Pencharz in a statement. "We want to encourage the continued development of these technologies, while also protecting the benefits to traffic flow in the centre of London that the charge provides."
TfL also confirmed diesel drivers already receiving the Greener Vehicle Discount will continue to be eligible until June 2016.
