New London T-charge for pre-Euro 4 vehicles adds RM56 fee on top of existing RM64 congestion charge

Motorists in the UK may have to pay an additional £10 (RM56) for driving through/into London, following the new Toxicity Charge or T-charge imposed by its mayor, Sadiq Khan. Autocar reports that the fee is limited to high polluting cars, with Khan specifically targeting petrol and diesel vehicles manufactured before 2005 that don’t meet Euro 4 emissions standards for nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulates.

The new levy is separate from the existing £11.50 (RM64) congestion charge, which means affected motorists may end up paying £21.50 (RM120) if they plan to drive in central London during the enforced hours. T-charge will be policed by the same network of cameras enforcing the congestion charging zone. Motorists will be able to check online to determine if their vehicles fall within the parameters of T-charge.

Harsh as the move may seem, Khan’s insistence to cut urban emissions has also seen him propose an extension of the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) to include the North and South Circular roads. Under current plans, which is set to be enforced in 2020, motorists entering the ULEZ will have to pay a fee that’s subject to the “cleanliness” of their vehicles. Khan however, wants it implemented a year earlier.

New London T-charge for pre-Euro 4 vehicles adds RM56 fee on top of existing RM64 congestion charge

London Mayor, Sadiq Khan

Khan was elected with the clear mandate to curb London’s worsening air quality, and said “the previous mayor was too slow on this issue, the government has been hopelessly inactive and it’s Londoners who are suffering as a result.” Khan claims that more than 10,000 people die annually in London due to polluted air, which has come under close scrutiny in recent years due to rising NOx emissions.

The situation is so dire that parts of the capital regularly breach EU limits for NOx – Putney High Street in West London breached the EU’s annual limit just one week(!) into 2016. Currently, London already has a Low Emission Zone, but it doesn’t apply to cars or motorcycles.

Earlier in July, Britain pledged to ban all sales of new petrol and diesel cars by 2040 in a bid to tackle emissions. This however, will not affect hybrids and plug-in hybrids, only cars with conventional powertrains. Oxford City Council has a more extreme measure – all petrol and diesel cars will be banned from its urban centre from 2020. The policy is currently being subjected to a public consultation.

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