UK clean air and low emissions zones have generated over £418 million in fees and penalty charges since March 2021, according to new research by PEUGEOT UK. The London Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) contributed the most to this income, accounting for £319,822,943 between October 2021 and April 2023. All net revenue generated by the ULEZ is required by law to be reinvested back into London’s transport network. With the expansion of the ULEZ to all London boroughs on August 29, eligible vehicle owners in these areas can apply for up to £2,000 for scrapping their car as part of a £110 million scrappage scheme. PEUGEOT is offering a new e-Grant that allows customers to save £3,000 on electric models, providing potential savings of up to £5,000 on a new electric vehicle.
The UK currently has 13 low emissions zones, clean air zones, and zero emissions zones. Nine of these zones charge non-compliant vehicles an entry fee, with penalty charge notices issued to drivers who fail to pay the daily charge. PEUGEOT’s research, based on Freedom of Information requests, revealed that eight zones have generated a total of £418,501,974 in income from motorists since March 2021 (data from Bristol Clean Air Zone was not provided). Each zone has different charging criteria, such as specific emissions standards for diesel and petrol vehicles. Some zones, like the Low Emissions Zones in Scotland, have a ban on vehicles that do not meet the emissions requirements, with no option to pay a fee to enter the zone.
In addition to generating income, revenue from clean air zones in the UK must be reinvested into local transport policies. For example, Birmingham City Council has invested over £52 million of net surplus revenues from its Clean Air Zone to fund a hydrogen bus trial, upgrade train stations, and improve cycling infrastructure. Bristol’s Clean Air Zone uses the surplus revenue to provide grants and loans to individuals and businesses for replacing vehicles that do not meet the zone’s emission standards.
PEUGEOT is already ahead in meeting the latest Euro 6 emissions standards for both petrol and diesel models, and the company offers electrified versions of all its models. By 2030, PEUGEOT plans to sell only fully electric vehicles in the UK to comply with future emissions standards. Adam Wood, Managing Director of PEUGEOT UK, emphasizes the importance of improving urban air quality and the company’s commitment to helping drivers avoid charges and reduce emissions by offering incentives like the e-Grant.
The tables provided in the article showcase the income generated by various clean air initiatives in different local authorities and the estimated annual costs for motorists entering non-compliant vehicles into the zones on a daily basis. It is important to note that the time periods for enforcement and fee structures vary among different zones.