London should introduce a Dutch-style zero emission zone for commercial vehicles to halt the rise of polluting diesel vans, a coalition of campaign groups has urged Mayor Sadiq Khan.
Diesel van numbers surge despite ULEZ
At the end of 2025, the number of diesel vans registered by businesses in London exceeded 100,000 for the first time, and the figure is expected to keep rising. In contrast, only 5,582 battery-electric vans were registered by companies, meaning there are 18 diesel vans for every electric van on London's roads.
Data shows that just two per cent of diesel vans scrapped under City Hall's Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) scrappage scheme were replaced with an electric vehicle.
Campaigners call for Dutch model
A dozen campaign groups from environmental and health organisations have signed a joint letter asking Sir Sadiq to adopt the Dutch approach, where cities set a date after which all newly purchased vans must be electric to enter a designated zero emission zone.
The letter, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), states that vans are now the single biggest transport source of NOx emissions in central and inner London, contributing to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a toxic gas linked to asthma attacks, lung disease, heart disease, strokes, and thousands of premature deaths.
The signatories said: "Other European cities are showing what ambitious leadership can achieve. In the Netherlands, zero-emission zones for freight are accelerating the transition away from diesel vehicles and giving businesses the certainty needed to invest in cleaner transport. The Dutch model works because it establishes clear, long-term rules and ensures that companies operate on a level playing field."
They added: "Without decisive action, we fear the number of diesel vans will continue to rise, undermining your air quality and climate goals for years to come. London has led the way before on clean air policy. It can do so again."
Zero emission zones for all commercial vehicles
The proposed zones would cover all commercial vehicles, including those owned or operated by councils, such as bin lorries. A City Hall spokesperson said they are working with cities that have introduced zero emission zones to "understand their impact" before taking action.
In 2025, the Netherlands introduced 18 zero-emission zones for freight, with plans to expand to 29 municipalities by 2030. In the first half of 2025, 78.4 per cent of newly registered vans in the Netherlands were battery-electric, far above the EU average of 8.5 per cent. Electric truck registrations rose by 187.6 per cent year-on-year, representing a quarter of all new electric trucks sold in the EU.
London lags behind in this cultural shift, with cash-strapped councils even rowing back on climate pledges to save money. Hillingdon Council recently spent £500,000 on ULEZ fees due to its ageing vehicle fleet, which consists of 295 vehicles, only three of which are electric and six hybrid. The council's solution was to buy 32 new ULEZ-compliant diesel vehicles rather than electric alternatives. Kensington and Chelsea Council also purchased new diesel waste vehicles because they are cheaper upfront.
Flexibility for businesses
The letter suggests that different dates could be set for businesses needing more time to transition. Zak Bond, Campaign Manager at Clean Cities, a signatory, said: "Action to get diesel vans off our streets has not just stalled; it is going in reverse. Crossing the 100,000 mark for company-owned diesel vans should be a wake-up call for London. The alternatives exist, but we need the Mayor of London to step in with the leadership needed to electrify London's van fleets at the pace the climate and air quality crises demand. The Dutch have shown us that zero-emission zones for freight can accelerate the shift to cleaner vehicles. It's time for some Dutch courage in London."
Jemima Hartshorn, Founder of Mums for Lungs, another signatory, added: "Every day, more dirty diesel vans drive past our schools, nurseries and homes, polluting the air our kids breathe, worsening asthma and setting them up for a lifetime of ill-health. Parents are fed up with hearing promises about the air being clean, when we can smell diesel fumes and when we see our kids coughing. Our children are missing out on school, dinners at home, and playing with their friends, because the Mayor allows more and more diesel vans on our roads. The Mayor must act with the urgency this public health issue demands. We urge him to deliver a zero emission zone for freight in London to ensure that vans are cleaned up, London's kids can breathe easier, and London's future can be diesel-free."
Political support
Earlier on Thursday, June 11, Sir Sadiq's party colleagues on the London Assembly appeared to support reforming policy around diesel vans. Leonie Cooper, Labour's environment spokesperson, said: "The Mayor has made real progress in cleaning up London's air by rolling out more electric and hybrid buses, which has already brought real health benefits. But air pollution is still a serious problem, and the high number of diesel vans on our roads shows there is still much more to do. We should look at all options, including a clear plan to phase out diesel vehicles in cities and move faster towards zero-emission freight, as well as stronger standards for the vehicles that remain."
City Hall response
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: "We know ULEZ has been a huge success in cleaning up London's air. More than 53,000 older, more polluting vehicles were removed from London's roads before the ULEZ expansion was implemented. This shows the scheme working exactly as intended. Building on the world-leading ULEZ and our work to electrify the bus and taxi fleets, we are working with cities that have introduced zero emission freight zones to understand their impact, while TfL has published guidance to support local schemes. We are also partnering with C40 Cities to trial shared EV charging for high‑mileage fleets including vans, to support their shift to fully electric. Alongside this, we are working with partners across the public and private sectors to understand London's future logistics needs and identify opportunities for innovation through the London Logistics Plan as we continue to build a greener, fairer London for everyone."
