Peugeot UK reveals since March 2021, Low Emissions Zones have generated over £418 million

New research by PEUGEOT UK has discovered that Low Emissions Zones, Clean Air Zones, and Zero Emissions Zones have generated over £418 million in fees and penalty charges since March 2021.

The London Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) is responsible for the majority of fees and fines, generating £319,822,943 of the income between October 2021 (when the ULEZ was expanded to cover the North and South Circular roads in London) and April 2023. The net revenue the ULEZ brings in must be reinvested back into London’s transport network by law.

Before the ULEZ expanded to all London boroughs on 29 August 2023, anyone living in one of London's boroughs or within the City of London with an eligible vehicle was applicable for up to £2,000 for scrapping the vehicle as part of a £110 million scrappage scheme. This was to help people buy a new, ULEZ compliant vehicle, such as the Peugeot e-208 or the New Peugeot e-2008.

The UK currently has 13 Low Emissions Zones, Clean Air Zones, or Zero Emissions Zones scattered across it, including the London Ultra Low Emissions Zone. Presently, 9 zones/areas charge non-compliant vehicles an entry fee, with Penalty Charge Notices sent to those that don't pay the daily charge.

PEUGEOT’s research, based on Freedom of Information requests, discovered that 8 zones have generated £418,501,974 in income from motorists since March 2021 (Bristol City Council withheld data on the Bristol Clean Air Zone in order to publish the information themselves).

Most of the zones have differing criteria for how they charge motorists. For example, London’s ULEZ necessitates all diesel cars and vans meet the most recent Euro 6 emissions standards, and petrol models meet Euro 4 standards. Private cars are currently exempt from a charge when entering the Bath Clean Air Zone, but vans, HGVs, and private hire vehicles not meeting the required standards, are subject to charges. In Scotland, Low Emissions Zones in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh place a ban on vehicles that do not meet the emissions requirements, with no ability to pay a fee to enter the zone.

On 28 February 2022, the city of Oxford began the UK’s first Zero Emissions Zone, needing non-zero-emissions vehicles to pay a daily entry fee when operating in the zone. From its inception up to 30 April 2023, the Zero Emissions Zone in Oxford has generated £779,306 from motorists.  

The Transport Act of 2000 requires local authorities in England re-invest any revenue above the cost of operation from Clean Air Zones be invested into the delivery of local transport policies. Birmingham City Council claims to have invested over £52 million of net surplus revenues from its Clean Air Zone to fund a hydrogen bus trial, improve train stations, and improve cycling infrastructure. Meanwhile, surplus revenue from Bristol’s Clean Air Zone is used to provide grants and loans to people and businesses that need to replace vehicles which don't meet the zone's emission standards.

The whole PEUGEOT line-up already meets the most recent Euro 6 standards for both thier petrol and diesel models. PEUGEOT also offers an electrified version of all their current models, and in 2030 PEUGEOT has pledged to only sell fully electric vehicles in the UK, to future-proof its models against future emissions standards.

Managing Director of PEUGEOT UK, Adam Wood, said: “Local authorities are turning their focus to improving urban air quality with 13 Clean Air Zones now in place across the UK. To help drivers avoid charges and reduce emissions in our urban centres, PEUGEOT has introduced a new e-Grant, offering customers a £3,000 saving on the new, all-electric e-208 and E-2008.”

Income generated by UK clean air initiatives:

• The Bath Clean Air Zone generated £9,978,443.00 between 26/03/2021 - 18/05/2023
• The Birmingham Clean Air Zone generated £79,583,482.00 between 14/06/2021 - 05/04/2023
• The London Ultra Low Emissions Zone generated £319,822,943.02 between 01/10/2021 - 21/04/2023
• The Oxford Zero Emissions Zone generated £779,306.40 between 28/02/2022 - 30/04/2023
• The Bradford Clean Air Zone generated £6,727,725.00 between 26/09/2022 - 19/06/2023
• The Portsmouth Clean Air Zone generated £932,577.00 between 29/11/2021 - 18/05/2023
• The Sheffield Clean Air Zone generated £495,966.00 between 27/02/2023 - 30/04/2023
• The Tyneside Clean Air Zone generated £181,532.00 between 30/01/2023 - 30/04/2023

In total, these zones have generated £418,501,974.42.

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