London motorists driving older, more polluting vehicles must pay a new charge from Monday as part of one of the world's toughest vehicle emissions programmes.

The ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) charges certain polluting vehicles a 12.50 pounds ($16, 14.5 euros) fee to enter the centre of the British capital under mayor Sadiq Khan's plans to reduce air pollution.

Anyone driving a diesel cars more than around four years old and a petrol cars more than around 13 years old will pay the charge, although the vehicle's declared emissions will be the official measure.

Black cabs are exempt from the charge.

Larger vehicles, such as lorries and coaches, that exceed the limits face a daily charge of 100 pounds.

Khan said the Ulez will "help clean our air and reduce harmful road transport emissions", which "shorten life expectancy and damage lung development."

A King's College London and Imperial College London study commissioned by the mayor found that poor air quality leads to about 1,000 London hospital admissions every year.

"As someone who developed adult-onset asthma over the last few years, I know from personal experience that London's toxic air is damaging people's health," Khan said.

"This study is a stark reminder that air pollution disproportionately affects the most vulnerable Londoners and I'm doing everything in my power to protect children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions from our filthy air."

The Ulez area will be extended to the whole of inner London from October 2021.

The charges apply at all times and are additional to the congestion charge fee of 11.50 pounds, applicable between 7:00 am and 6:00 pm on weekdays.

London director of the CBI business lobby group, Eddie Curzon, warned that "smaller firms can struggle to afford the switch to low-emission vehicles", with around 100,000 vehicles expected to be affected each day.

"It is crucial that City Hall works with firms to help them take advantage of new technologies and support them, where required, to accelerate the take-up of low emission vehicles."

Related Links
Car Technology at SpaceMart.com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

US judge orders talks between Tesla's Musk, securities regulators
New York (AFP) April 4, 2019
A federal judge on Thursday gave Tesla chief executive Elon Musk and US securities regulators two weeks to resolve their differences over Musk's prolific social media use. The Securities and Exchange Commission had argued Musk should be held in contempt of court for allegedly violating an earlier settlement on tweeting potentially market-sensitive information without having it reviewed by counsel. "I am requiring you to meet and confer for at least an hour," US District Judge Alison Nathan said ... read more