Fleets face UK's first Zero Emission Zone in Oxford
Fleets will have an early taste of a difficult future when Oxford introduces the UK’s first zero emission zone on 28 February.
The zone is the first in the UK and one of the first to be implemented anywhere in the world, although many cities are set to follow as authorities attempt to combat air pollution and climate change.
Daily charges
Oxford's pilot scheme will use number plate recognition technology to monitor vehicles driving in the zero emission zone, and impose a daily charge on all petrol and diesel vehicles, including hybrids. The charges range from £2 (€2.40) per day for vehicles that emit less than 75 g/km CO2, to £4 (€4.80) per day for Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel vehicles, rising to £10 (€12) per day for all other vehicles. The fees will double in 2025.
Electric cars will not have to pay the charges, boosting their total cost of ownership compared to internal combustion engine vehicles.
Oxford City Council hopes the scheme will reduce toxic air pollution and change travel choices towards cleaner modes of transport.
“There is no safe level of air pollution,” said Councillor Tom Hayes, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Green Transport and Zero Carbon Oxford, Oxford City Council. “The City Council has helped to establish a data-led, science-based target of creating a net zero city by 2040.”
If successful, the zone will expand next year to cover most of Oxford city centre next year, subject to public consultation.
Europe's Zero Emission Zones
Oxford is at the forefront of European cities looking to introduce zero emission zones. In Norway, Bergen plans to pilot a zero emission zone next year and for its city centre to be zero emission by 2030, while in the Netherlands, 30 to 40 cities including Amsterdam, Breda, Delft, Eindhoven, Maastricht and Rotterdam, will introduce zero emission zones for logistics (delivery and service) vehicles from 2025.
And Paris will ban petrol and diesel vehicles from 2030, allowing only electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to drive on its streets.
Image: Oxford City Council
