Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone has been gradually coming into action since 2018. This month, Glasgow Council announced that the zone will come into full effect by 2023 and released a full list of vehicles that will be exempt from the zone penalties.
In this blog, we’ll discuss the purpose of a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in Glasgow, which vehicles are exempt from zone penalties, and how you can take advantage of the council’s schemes to invest in a low-emission vehicle such as an E-Bike.
What Is A Low Emission Zone?
A low emission zone is an area with an environmental limit on certain road spaces. Polluting cars often have to pay a fee to drive into the zone. Low emission vehicles (such as PHEVs) will travel at a reduced rate, and zero-emission vehicles will travel for free.
A low emission zone aims to reduce pollution from road vehicles and encourage the public to switch to more sustainable travel to help save the environment and to save money on road fees.
What Is Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone?
Whilst Glasgow has been taking steps to reduce its carbon emissions, the City Council reported that as of 2022, harmful nitrogen dioxide is being recorded in the city centre at levels that do not meet statutory objectives.
The main cause of this nitrogen dioxide is pollution from road traffic, so a low emission zone is being implemented to protect public health and air quality. The LEZ will be phased in gradually, so all drivers will be made aware of how it will affect them before it comes into play:
- Phase 1 (buses only) was introduced on 31 December 2018.
- Phase 2 (all vehicles) is in operation and will be enforced from 1 June 2023.
- Enforcement for vehicles registered to residential property within the zone will start on 1 June 2024.
Instead of charging a fee to those who drive into the zone (as they do in LEZs in London), Glasgow Council will charge a penalty of £60 to non-exempt vehicles who drive into the zone, reduced by 50% if paid within two weeks. This penalty will increase if a driver continues to use the zone in a non-exempt vehicle. Automatic Number Plate Recognition will be used to detect vehicles that don’t comply with the emission standards.
Road signs signifying the borders of the LEZ will be put up, so drivers are aware when they are entering the zone. You can check if your vehicle meets exemption requirements on the Glasgow Council’s vehicle checker.
Vehicles Exempt From Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone Penalties
There are some vehicles which will be exempt from low emission zone charges. These mostly fall under the categories of emergency, low emission or essential vehicles, some of which include:
- Emergency vehicles
- Vehicles for disabled persons (including blue badge holders)
- Navel, Military or Air Force vehicles
- Historic vehicles
- Motorcycles
- Mopeds
- Motorised tricycles
- Motorised quadricycles
Glasgow Council Announce E-bike Loans
Transport Scotland and Energy Saving Trust will fund E-Bike loans to help make switching to electric vehicles easier for the Glasgow public. The E-Bike loan can help you purchase a new electric bike, including cargo and adapted cycles.
For individuals, the loan is interest-free and repayable over four years. It can be used for:
- 2 x E-Bikes capped at £3,000 each
- 1 x family cargo bike capped at £6,000
- 1 x adapted cycle (value assessed on a case-by-case basis)
The purchased E-Bike must comply with the UK Government’s eligibility criteria for Scotland, and you must not pay any money (aside from the deposit) towards the bike before receiving the loan.
E-Bike loans are also available for businesses that want to reduce their carbon footprint by providing more sustainable travel options for employees.
Shop E-Scooters and E-Bikes With Smartly
If your current vehicle is not exempt from the Glasgow LEZ and you need to travel through that area regularly, you should consider switching to a low-emission electric vehicle.
With loans available to help you switch to an E-Bike or E-Scooter, there has never been a better time to embrace sustainable travel options.
At Smartly, we have partnered with Vialoco to provide a range of the highest-quality E-Scooters and E-Bikes to help make the future of travel more sustainable. We have a range of electric bikes and scooters from top brands such as Ducati, Jeep, and Lamborghini available now.
Why Shop For E-Bikes With Smartly?
At Smartly, customer service is at the heart of what we do. We know that navigating the new world of electric vehicles can be tricky, so we offer a transparent service to help match you to a product that will suit your lifestyle and needs.
We’re dedicated to quality and work with either UK-based or highly reputable European brands to bring you the highest quality charging and EV equipment on the market. We’d never sell you something that’s anything less than exceptional quality.
We also like to practise what we preach here at Smartly, including being as sustainable as possible. We’re proud to be a certified carbon neutral company, and we work with our partners at One Tree Planted to plant a minimum of 30 trees a month.
Contact Us
If you have anything you’d like to ask us about E-Bikes, E-Scooters or anything else, the fastest way to get an answer to your question is to use our live chat function, which you can find at the bottom right of our web page.
If you’d like to phone us, you can call us on 0333 33 55 965 or send us an email. We’ll always aim to reply ASAP.
