London announced on Friday that it will extend the road tax for the most polluting vehicles to the whole of the British capital from next summer, while encouraging the use of electric cars, AFP reported.

In 2019, the ULEZ (ultra-low emission zone) was limited to central London, but has already been significantly expanded in 2021. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan announced on Friday that it will be extended to all of London, dom. to nine million people starting on August 29, 2023.

Amid the cost of living crisis, introducing the new tax was “one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make”, he commented, but air pollution is making Londoners sick “from cradle to grave”.

“At the end of the day, public health is more important than political expediency,” the Labor mayor added. “Five million more people will be able to breathe cleaner air.”

Meanwhile, Sadiq Khan announced on Thursday his intention to keep London at the forefront of the electric car “revolution” by adding 100 super-fast charging points across the city that will allow a battery to be fully charged in 20-30 minutes.

According to the City Hall, there are more than 11,000 charging points in the capital, that is, one for every four electric cars registered in London. The city also plans to create 4,500 jobs related to the development of electric vehicles.

The ULEZ extension does not apply to electric vehicles.

This expansion is “good news for the health of all Londoners. Air pollution affects children even before they are born and causes lifelong health problems,” Moms for Lungs wrote on Twitter.

Currently, drivers of petrol cars usually built before 2006 (Euro 4 standard) and diesel vehicles usually built before 2015 (Euro 6 standard) must pay £12.50 (€14.80) a day to enter ULEZ. Trucks and intercity buses must pay £100 (€116) per day. Taxis are released.

In addition to this charge, all vehicles in the ultra center are charged a ‘congestion charge’ of £15 per day to reduce traffic.

According to a 2019 report, air pollution caused 1,000 hospital admissions a year in London between 2014 and 2016.

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