WHAT PERCENTAGE OF HARMFUL GASES ARE PRODUCED BY NON-ULES COMPLIANT CARS
Request ID: FOI-3070-2223 Date published: 17 April 2023
You asked
Newer motor cars which would be driven by younger and richer individuals which are ULEZ complaint may be producing more harmful gases in London than those older cars which are driven by poorer and older individuals.
Has consideration been done not to numbers of non-ULEZ compliant cars that are registered in London but also the number of miles and percentage of harmful gases that these cars produce. If not then the imposition of the ULEZ to outer London is wrong. My questions are as follows:
1. What is the total number of motor cars registered to owners within London (inner and outer)
2. What is the percentage of motor cars on the roads within London (inner and outer) that are non-ULEZ-compliant.
3. What is the percentage of carbon monoxide produced by non-ULEZ- compliant cars within London (inner and outer).
I drive a non-compliant ULEZ EURO 2 category car driving 1000 miles a year. A compliant ULEZ EURO 4 car would be producing 50% less harmful gases - but if such cars are doing 20,000 miles a year, they would be producing 10 times more harmful gases but do not get charged at all, whereas my own local trips, doing 2 or 3 miles a day would be hit with £12.50 daily charge.
In what world is this fair ?
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-3070-2223
Thank you for your request received on 19 February 2023 asking for information about non-Ultra-low Emission Zone (ULEZ) compliant cars. Your request will be processed in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. You asked: 1. What is the total number of motor cars registered to owners within London (inner and outer)? The data below is from TfL analysis of data provided by the Society of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The data is correct at the end of 2021. The data represented here is estimated passenger cars registered with the DVLA to addresses within postcode districts that have been assigned to central, inner, and outer London and are based on rounded numbers. This data shows where vehicles are registered and not all vehicles are in frequent use. This cannot be compared with the ULEZ compliance reported for circulating traffic as captured by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. Central London = 41,000 Inner London = 815,000 Outer London = 1,988,000 These figures for central, inner and outer London are mutually exclusive, not cumulative. Data from SMMT for 2022 is not yet available. 2. What is the percentage of motor cars on the roads within London (inner and outer) that are non-ULEZ-compliant? The data below is based on ANPR data analysis of circulating traffic undertaken towards the end of 2022. This data includes all cars seen on the roads in London, regardless of where they are registered. Compliance estimates are based on the existing camera network including a limited number of Outer London cameras. Compliance estimates will be updated once the camera network for the expansion of the ULEZ to all London boroughs is established. ANPR is the most accurate representation of ULEZ compliance. Inner London non-compliant cars = 4 % Outer London non-compliant cars = 10 % 3. What is the percentage of carbon monoxide produced by non-ULEZ- compliant cars within London (inner and outer)? We do not hold this information. Carbon monoxide emissions are not modelled for vehicles in the ULEZ. The ULEZ is designed to reduce emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) which contributes to concentrations of nitrogen dioxide which is damaging to human health. If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate 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
