ULEZ charges: Why has a low emission zone been introduced in London?

The UK’s capital of London today introduced a so-called Ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) where people with older and polluting cars will face charges between £12.50 to £100. The charges will be in effect 365 days a year at all times. Most vehicles - including vans, minibuses and motorcycles - are subject to the £12.50 rate while lorries, buses and coaches will have to pay a daily fee of £100.

All vehicles except from black cabs are liable for the ULEZ charge, unless they meet the emission standards required to avoid it.

The low emission zone is based on Euro standards focused on top limits for polluting nitrogen oxides and particulate matter from car engines.

Diesel cars must be less than roughly four years old to avoid the charge, while petrol cars must be less than about 13 years old.

If the charge is not paid, drivers face penalties up to £1,000.

READ MORE: ULEZ check map: How to check which zones in London are affected - area mapped

Why has a low emission zone been introduced in London?

The ULEZ charge was introduced by the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and was launched on Monday, April 8.

The toxic air levy is part of the Mayor’s plans to improve Londoner’s health by cleaning up the capital’s air.

The polluted air is said to cause thousands of early deaths in London every year.

The scheme will protect “children from lung damage, reduce the risk of breathing illnesses and heart disease in adults, and improve the health of people exposed to the highest levels of pollution”.

Mr Khan previously commissioned a study by King's College London and Imperial College London which found poor air quality leads to about 1,000 London hospital admissions for asthma and serious lung conditions every year.

He said: "As someone who developed adult-onset asthma over the last few years, I know from personal experience that London's toxic air is damaging people's health.

"This study is a stark reminder that air pollution disproportionately affects the most vulnerable Londoners and I'm doing everything in my power to protect children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions from our filthy air."

According to the Mayor, more than 400 schools in London are in areas exceeding legal air quality levels.

He also said every Londoner in the capital lives in an area exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for the most dangerous toxic particles.

The ULEZ will help reduce these emissions, where the zone currently covers central London.

But Mr Khan has confirmed ULEZ will expand up to the North and South Circular roads from October 25, 2021.