Vans now pollute more than London cabs - analysis

Diesel vans have become the top road polluters in central London

Diesel vans have surpassed taxis as the biggest road source of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in central London, new figures show.

Analysis of data from London Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (LAEI) shows vans emitted 108 tonnes of NOx in 2022, compared with 78 tonnes from taxis and 60 tonnes from cars.

Clean Cities, the think tank which analysed the LAEI data, called on the London mayor to introduce a 100% Congestion Charge discount for electric vans run by small businesses and charities to help them switch away from diesel.

City Hall says van emissions in central London still fell by 14% between 2019 and 2022, and road transport NOx across London is down 52% since Sir Sadiq Khan took office in 2016.

In 2019, taxis were the worst offenders for NOx on central London's roads, but electrification of the fleet has sharply cut their emissions, according to the analysis.

The modelling forecasts vans will remain the largest road contributor to NOx in 2030 unless more switch to electric.

NOx produces nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a gas linked to asthma attacks and reduced lung growth in children.

London continues to breach both UK legal limits and tougher World Health Organization guidelines, the Clean Cities analysis found.

Almost 100 charities and businesses have written to the mayor calling for more help for small firms and voluntary groups to switch to cleaner vehicles.

They want electric vans run by small businesses or charities to be exempt from the Congestion Charge.

The majority of London's black cabs are electric

Zak Bond, campaign manager at Clean Cities, said: "This new data shows we need to see much more action to tackle the dirty air coming from vans in our city.

"The mayor of London and London boroughs must act to push forward the use of electric vans and cargo bikes."

Jemima Hartshorn, founder of campaign group Mums for Lungs, said: "This worrying new data shows how children in London are breathing in toxic air from vans every day, which is stunting their lungs and sending them to hospital wheezing."

A City Hall spokesperson said London was "showing itself as a global leader" in tackling air pollution and climate change, and urged other cities to follow its lead.

Transport for London's consultation on proposed changes to the Congestion Charge has closed and a response will be published in due course, they added.