Our Ref:          FOI-2376-1819

Thank you for your request received on 7 December 2018 asking for information about private hire vehicles (PHVs).

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

The breakdown in number of Private Hire vehicles in London on the basis of fuel they use. Petrol or diesel.

The information you have requested is in the table below, it is correct as of 28 December 2018.

Fuel type Number of vehicles Percentage of the PHV fleet
Pure Diesel 46,825 53.4
Pure Petrol 3,412 3.9
Hybrid petrol/hybrid diesel/Electric/Hydrogen 37,471 42.7
Total fleet 87,708 100%

We are introducing new private hire vehicle requirements in a phased approach which will ensure that by 1 January 2023 all vehicles granted a private hire licence for the first time will be zero emission capable (ZEC), regardless of age. There are several milestones to be aware of:

1 January 2018 to 31 December 2019

All PHVs licensed for the first time during this period must have a Euro 6 petrol or diesel engine, or a Euro 4 petrol-hybrid engine.

1 January 2020 to 31 December 2022

All new (less than 18 months old) PHVs licensed for the first time will have to be zero emission capable.

PHVs over 18 months old will need to have a Euro 6 engine when licensed for the first time.

From 1 January 2023

All PHVs (of any age) will need to be ZEC when licensed for the first time.

Further information on PHV licensing standards and ULEZ requirements are available on our website at the following location: www.tfl.gov.uk/info-for/taxis-and-private-hire/emissions-standards-for-phvs.

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

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely

Gemma Jacob
Senior FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London

[email protected]