I’m (still) sitting on the little thai island of Koh Chang, at points choking of the fumes from all the vehicles, when I journey on the one road which runs the full length of the island and it led me to thinking about the new charge which has been implemented in London when driving. From the 23rd of October 2017 an additional charge has been added for older vehicles driving into London, on top of the £11.50 congestion charge already in place on weekdays. This will be called the T-Charge.
Older vehicles driving in central London now need to meet minimum Euro emission standards or pay an extra daily charge. This is in addition to the Congestion Charge. The T-Charge (officially known as the Emissions Surcharge) operates in the Congestion Charge zone and is part of our commitment to help clean up London’s dangerously polluted air.
Older vehicles that drive in the central London Congestion Charge zone need to meet minimum Euro emission standards or pay an additional daily charge. This is on top of the Congestion Charge.
The T-Charge aims to improve air quality in London, in particular with regard to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter, both of which have an adverse effect on human health.
We already have a number of schemes planned that address this, including the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), new licensing requirements to reduce emissions from taxis and private hire vehicles and improvements to our bus fleet. However, more needs to be done to ensure that we continue to tackle pollution effectively and address public health concerns as London’s economy and population grows.
The T-Charge (officially known as the Emissions Surcharge) aims to discourage the use of older, more polluting vehicles driving into and within central London.
It is the first step towards the introduction of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), a 24-hour charging zone in central London for older vehicles.
So there you have it. If you are considering driving into England’s capital city it is best to be aware of the cost!