Emissions Surcharge
Request ID: FOI-2447-1718
Date published: 02 January 2018
You asked
I understand that petrol cars manufactured before the Euro 4 standard came into place are now subject to an emissions surcharge (T Charge) if driving within the London congestion charge zone at the time when the congestion charge applies.
Please state what hard evidence, by way of vehicle tests do you have that all petrol cars (particularly those fitted with catalytic converters) manufactured before the Euro 4 standard was made do not meet these emission standards as you have now put a blanket charge on all such vehicles.
What tests have you made on pre Euro 4 petrol cars.
What tests are you relying on for saying these petrol vehicles do not meet Euro 4 emission standards or are you just guessing.
I would suggest 2 models which are probably cleaner than many Euro 4 cars.
Saab 900 ng petrol.
Toyota Carina E (catalytic converter models) petrol.
Please state what tests and results of tests you are relying on to include such cars as cars that do not meet the appropriate emission standards.
If you have not made any tests which third party tests are you relying on -please give results or links to results or other hard evidence.(Not conjecture or guesswork)
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-2447-1718
Thank you for your request received on 25 December 2017 asking for information about the Emissions Surcharge (T Charge). I apologise for the delay in my response.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy. I can confirm we hold some of the information you require.
In order to drive in the Congestion Charging Zone without paying the Emissions Surcharge, drivers and operators of passenger cars need to ensure they meet the relevant European emission standards for their vehicle. To clarify, European emission standards are set out in a series of EU directives which define the acceptable limits for exhaust emissions of new vehicles sold in EU and EEA member states. The directives impose a legal requirement for vehicle manufacturers to ensure new vehicles, manufactured on or after a defined date, meet the relevant emission standard for that vehicle type.
The principle of using EU directives to define vehicle emission standards in London has been established since the Greater London Low Emission Zone (LEZ), which applies to larger diesel vehicles, was introduced in 2007. The Euro 4/IV emission standard applicable to passengers cars for the purposes of complying with the T Charge requirements is EU Directive 98/69/EC, which is available on the europa.eu website. Please find a copy attached for ease of reference.
In 2016, we ran a public consultation setting out the reasons why we were proposing to introduce the T Charge in Central London. The reasons why Euro 4/IV emission standards are applicable to passenger cars was set out in the Consultation Information Document, which is available on our consultation hub at consultations.tfl.gov.uk:
https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/environment/air-quality-consultation-phase-2/user_uploads/consultation-information-document.pdf-1
As we have done in the decade since the LEZ was introduced, we recognise that some vehicles manufactured before the Euro standards became mandatory may already meet the required emissions standard. These vehicles are known as early adopters and may not be subject to the T Charge. Drivers who believe their vehicle may be an early adopter can register with TfL. Details of how to do this are available on our website:
https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/emissions-surcharge/emission-standards-and-the-t-charge-zone?intcmp=49129.
We do not undertake testing of individual vehicles or vehicle types to establish if they meet the relevant emissions standards required to comply with the T Charge.
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
FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London
[email protected]
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