Diesel Private Hire Vehicles to be banned from the capital

Sadiq Khan has been called upon by the City of London Corporation to implement a ban on diesel private hire vehicles (PHVs) with an outlook to remove existing ones from fleets as soon as possible.

It was highlighted in the authority’s response to the London Mayors proposals on air quality. The Corporation has requested that all new diesel PHVs banned as well as current licenses to be phased out by 2020 in a bid to protect the public from toxic emissions.

City of London public protection director, Jon Averns stated; ‘Diesel PHVs travel huge distances in central London and cleaner alternatives to diesel are readily available. They are releasing pollutants including nitrogen dioxides and particulate matter which can cause asthma, heart disease and cancer.

‘London’s businesses and residents want to see effective action from the authorities to reduce public exposure to air pollution in the short term. It is important that action is taken at the earliest opportunity to protect the health of Londoners.’

The Corporation has recently banned the purchasing of diesel vehicles for its own fleet and has pushed on with a London-wide ‘crackdown’ on drivers that leave their engines idling.