TfL Ref: FOI-1836-1819

Thank you for your email received on 11 October 2018 asking for information regarding private hire vehicles (PHVs) and emission standards.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require. You asked:

How many of the currently licensed PHV's (percentage or number) would fail to meet the new upcoming ULEZ emission standards?

London’s toxic air contributes to thousands of early deaths each year and is putting the health of children at risk. The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is central to the Mayor’s plans to transform the air that millions of Londoners breathe.

The ULEZ will mean that vehicles driving in central London will need to meet the toughest vehicle emission standards of any major city. This follows wide-ranging action the Mayor has already taken on tackling the most polluting cars, and cleaning up London’s bus and taxi fleet.

Transport for London (TfL) emissions standards for private hire vehicles (PHVs), including a zero emission capable (ZEC) requirement from 1 January 2020, is set out here: https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/taxis-and-private-hire/emissions-standards-for-phvs

Based on TfL records of licensed PHVs from September 2018 and DVLA records of vehicle emission standards from May 2018 (the latest DVLA data available), approximately 40 per cent of the licensed private hire fleet in September 2018 did not meet the ULEZ emission standards.

We anticipate that our emissions policy for PHVs and natural fleet replacement will increase the proportion of vehicles that will meet the ULEZ emission standards (and will have done so since September 2018). It should also be noted that not that all licensed PHVs would operate within the (central London) ULEZ area.

The attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Jasmine Howard
FOI Case Officer
Information Governance
Transport For London