Drivers in Greater London could be charged for every journey under plans being proposed by mayor Sadiq Khan. City Hall authorities in the capital are looking at plans to further reduce emissions and pollution with a view to establishing a new charging system by 2024. However, the plans, which could see drivers of older cars hit with a daily charge of between £2 and £4, have come under fire from motoring groups who are worried that the charges will adversely affect lower income families and commuters who would be unable to switch to cleaner options. 

The plans, which would encourage cycling, walking and the use of zero emissions electric vehicles would replace the current ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) and Congestion Charge systems which the mayor describes a ‘blunt instruments’ in the battle to reduce emissions and pollution. At present, drivers of non-zero-emission cars pay £15 per day to enter the Congestion Charge zone in central London, while drivers of older, more polluting cars* have to pay £12.50 to enter the ULEZ zone which covers a much wider area.  

Khan has asked Transport for London (TfL) to draw up a number of proposals to be introduced in 2024. Based on current emissions figures, the number of car journeys in the capital would need to fall by more than 25% in order to meet net zero emissions targets for 2030. It’s understood that the mayor would like to replace the two current systems with a pay-per-mile scheme. However, the technical infrastructure required to implement this is some years away from being ready, so a stop-gap solution will be required. 

One such solution would be to use the existing ULEZ camera network but change the parameters of the charging system. Instead of charging older, non-compliant cars, the system would charge all petrol and diesel cars, leaving only fully electric cars exempt. Given that the ULEZ system is already up and running, this is likely to be the preferred option while pay-per-mile charging is developed. 

Mayor Khan’s suggestion has been criticised by motoring groups. Speaking to the BBC,  the RAC's Nicholas Lyes said: "At a time when the basic cost of living for Londoners is soaring, these proposals seem to be poorly timed, so we strongly urge the mayor to think again instead of defaulting to extracting more money from the pockets of London's drivers."

The proposals of the TfL consultation are expected to be announced later in the year.

* Vehicles that meet ULEZ standards are: Euro 3 motorcycles, mopeds, motorised tricycles and quadricycles (L category), Euro 4 (NOx) petrol cars, vans, minibuses and other specialist vehicles, Euro 6 (NOx and PM) diesel cars, vans and minibuses and other specialist vehicles.

The existing ULEZ (Ultra Low Emissions Zone) could be scrapped under plans being developed by TfL and London mayor Sadiq Khan