Charges and fines in London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) generated an eye-watering nine-figure sum last year.
Data obtained by the BBC found around a third of the £224 million sum came from penalty charge notices, with the rest made up of daily charge payments.
The ULEZ is set to expand at the end of August, covering all London boroughs.
Transport for London (TfL) says the cash has been spent on ‘set-up costs’ for the expansion and ‘running and improving’ the rest of the network.
A Freedom of Information request found ULEZ generated £224,633,003 in 2022 – an average of £18.7 million a month.
Vehicles driven through the zone must meet ULEZ emission standards or pay a £12.50 daily charge.
Drivers who don’t pay up will receive a penalty charge of £180, which is reduced to £90 if paid within two weeks.
Last year ULEZ daily charges made £151.3 million, while penalty charges generated £73.3 million.
ULEZ was first launched in April 2019, covering the same area as the congestion zone. It expanded in 2021, and in August it’s set to cover the whole of London.
The set-up costs to expand the ULEZ are estimated to reach £140 million, TfL said.
The costs include signage, marketing, detection and enforcement infrastructure, and risk and project overheads – with the installation of ANPR cameras likely to cost up to £50 million alone.
TfL reckons the expanded ULEZ could make ‘up to £200 million a year’, despite the existing, much smaller zone making more than this last year.
Christina Calderato, TfL’s director of strategy and policy, said 90% of cars driven in outer London on an average day comply with ULEZ standards.
However, figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said one in six cars registered in outer London didn’t meet ULEZ standards last year.
Plans for ULEZ expansion have been controversial, with five councils opposing it in the courts.
Some drivers have criticised the expansion, with one classic car owner saying it has ‘ripped her heart out’.
Ms Calderato said: ‘TfL would rather no-one needed to pay the charge.
‘The London-wide ULEZ is vital in tackling the triple challenges of air pollution, the climate emergency and congestion.’
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