Britain’s first Zero Emission Zone will launch in Oxford on February 28th 2022 as a pilot scheme tasked with reducing the pollution that causes health issues. As the name suggests, only drivers in clean, zero emission, fully electric vehicles will be able to enter for free. Motorists in petrol, diesel, and hybrid vehicles will be charged according to how much pollution they emit.
Oxford Zero Emission Zone area
The Zero Emission Zone will cover a small area during its pilot phase, then expand. It will initially span: New Road between Bonn Square and the junction with Castle Street, Bonn Square, Queen Street, Cornmarket Street, New Inn Hall Street, Shoe Lane, Market Street from Cornmarket junction east for 40 metres, Ship Street, and St Michael’s Street. The zone will be marked by roadside signs.
An automatic number plate recognition camera system will record which vehicles enter the zone. It will operate from 7am to 7pm seven days a week. Drivers will then pay the charges via the Oxfordshire County Council website. The charges will be based on vehicle type, emissions, and increase once the pilot phase is over.
Oxford Zero Emission Zone costs
| Vehicle | CO2 emissions | Daily charge from Febuary 28th 2022 | Daily charge from August 2025 |
| Zone emission | 0 g/km | £0 | £0 |
| Ultra-low emission | Vehicles that emit less than 75 g/km of CO2. two and three wheeled vehicles that emit more than 0 g/km. heavy goods vehicles that meet the National Ultra-low emission truck standard, once it is defined | £2 | £4 |
| Low emission | Petrol vehciles that have four or more wheels and meet the euro four emission standard. Diesel vehicles that have four or more wheels and meet the euro six emission standard | £4 | £8 |
| Others | Vehciles that do not meet any of the above standard | £10 | £20 |
Drivers will only pay a charge once per day irrespective of how many times they enter, leave, and re-enter the zone. There will be no charge for any vehicles parked inside the zone that do not move.
Councillor champions new zone
Oxfordshire County Council’s Member for Travel and Development Strategy, Duncan Enright, said: 'We are taking action to improve air quality in the city and make it cleaner and safer. We will learn from the pilot and, in the coming months, consult with local communities as we develop plans to expand the zone across the city centre. We hope that residents, businesses, and visitors will join us in our journey towards our carbon neutral future’, he concluded.