An analysis of the early impacts of London’s new Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) found that in the first four months of its operation (March – July 2019) there was a reduction of 12,524 older, more polluting, non-compliant vehicles detected in the zone—a reduction of more than one-third.

There was a 30% decrease in the proportion of vehicles in the central zone that were non-compliant from March 2019 to July 2019.





The report also found that in July 2019 the average compliance rate with the ULEZ standards was around 73% in congestion charging hours and 75% in a 24-hour period. This is much higher than 39% in February 2017 and the 61% in March 2019 (congestion charging hours).

The Central London ULEZ started on 8 April 2019 and operates in the existing central London Congestion Charge Zone. Unlike the congestion charge, the ULEZ operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Vehicles must meet strict emission standards to drive in the ULEZ area:

Euro 4 for gasoline cars and vans (less than 14 years old in 2019)

Euro 6 for diesel cars (less than five years old in 2019)

Euro 6 for diesel vans (less than four years old in 2019)

Euro 3 for motorcycles and other L-category vehicles

Euro VI for trucks, buses and coaches

Vehicles that do not meet these standards must pay a charge of £12.50 (US$15.37) per day for cars, motorcycles and vans and £100 (US$122.93) per day for trucks, buses/coaches.

The report says that the daily charges have raised £51 million (US$62.69 million) for City Hall to spend on green transport initiatives.