Explore top electric vehicles for city living, ideal for London’s expanded ULEZ. Discover efficiency, style, and eco-friendly mobility for the urbanite.
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London drivers should prepare for an enlarged Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) coming in August 2023. London’s ULEZ is the first 24-hour Ultra Low Emissions Zone on the planet and was put in place to clean up the air purity in the UK’s capital city.
It means many cars will no longer be allowed to travel around London’s boroughs. But which cars are affected? How much could the fine be? And what transport alternatives are available to escape the ULEZ fine? This article is your all-encompassing guide to the 2023 ULEZ expansion.
What is the ULEZ?
The Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is a more robust update of the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) introduced to London in 2020 and restricts the types of cars allowed to travel through the zone. Only compliant vehicles can travel in the ULEZ that meet Euro 4 emissions standards for petrol or petrol hybrid cars, or Euro 6 emissions standards for diesel or diesel hybrid cars.
Euro emission standards information for your vehicle can be found in your vehicle handbook or on TfL’s online vehicle checker.
Where Is the New Ultra-Low Emission Zone?
Since 2021, the ULEZ has been in the North and South Circular boundary that extends from Harringay and Lewisham. Now, the new expanded ULEZ coming in August 2023 covers all 33 boroughs of London, stretching as far as Enfield to the North, Coulsdon to the South, Havering to the East and Heathrow Airport to the West.
What Charges Could There Be For Non-Compliance?
ULEZ charges increased slightly at the beginning of 2023. Now, the penalty for entering the ULEZ in a non-compliant car or van is £12.50 per day.
Are Electric Cars Exempt from the ULEZ Charge?
Because electric cars emit zero carbon emissions, they are completely exempt from the ULEZ charge. This is on top of the existing Congestion Charge Zone (CCZ) penalty of £15 per day if you drive inside its area, meaning you could be charged £27.50 for driving in Central London.
ULEZ electric cars like the Skoda Enyaq IV, BMW i4 and Tesla Model 3 mean you can travel around London freely and enjoy a range of future-forward technology that will reshape what you thought possible in a car.
Compare Skoda Enyaq Lease Deals
If you’re looking for a ULEZ electric car to beat the Ultra-Low Emission Zone charge, cars2buy is the UK’s favourite site for finding the best electric car leases. Leases are the perfect way to travel in a brand new car around London without having to wait for a taxi or worry about the later-years expenses of owning a car. With our transparent service, you won’t have to spend time trawling through hundreds of lease sites. We’ve already searched high and low for trusted electric vehicle lease deals available in the UK for you, so you can compare them all in one place. Browse our collection of ULEZ-beating electric car leases online today and you could be driving in London’s Ultra-Low Emission Zone before you know it.