TfL has set its sights on a zero-emission fleet by 2037; big change to air quality comes next year
Emissions standards across the country are being scrutinised as climate change becomes ever more prominent. Speaking at Coach & Bus UK, Gareth Powell, Managing Director of Surface Transport at Transport for London (TfL), discussed London’s take on the air quality crisis.
“I think it’s really come to the consciousness of many people,” he says. “We know poor air quality can stop the growth of children and affect lungs and asthma.
“Transport in London contributes to about half of all of the air pollution that London is breathing every day. The first step [to tackle this] was the introduction of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).”
Covering the same area as the congestion charge, the ULEZ operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week (unlike the congestion charge which is only at peak times). Since introducing the ULEZ, Mr Powell says it has had a “real impact on the way people think about what they do in the very centre of London.”
While it’s too early to report on emission figures, TfL can see there has been an improvement in air quality due to the number of compliant vehicles increasing.
“Back in 2017 when we first talked about the timescales of the ULEZ and bringing it forward, 39% of vehicles that went into the city were of Euro VI standard. That improved to 51% in March and is now at 76% as of August,” he explains.
“Two things are happening: One is that vehicles are being cleaned up and the second, of course, is that people are choosing which vehicles to operate in the very centre of London.”
Mr Powell also explained that the Low Emission Zone that exists today, currently at Euro IV standard, is being tightened to Euro VI on 26 October 2020.
“This is really important as it covers all of London for the heaviest vehicles, and if the vehicles are not compliant across London at that stage, they will need to pay a charge.”
As well as the change in emission standards for the Low Emission Zone, other changes planned for London include all 9,300 buses in the city to become zero emission by 2037.
“This is not going to be a London-only thing, this is a national process of trying to clean up the air in cities,” he says.
“It is a huge transition for us all to go in and we hope that we are able to go on the journey together.”
