What is a ULEV?

What is a ULEV?

A ULEV – or Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle – is a phrase used to describe vehicles that emit less than 75g/km of CO2. It’s exactly what it says on the tin: a vehicle that creates a very small amount of (or no) emissions when you drive it.

A typical petrol car will emit 143g/km, and diesel emits slightly more at 164g/km. A typical plug-in hybrid (PHEV) car, on the other hand, will only emit around 35g/km – therefore, it’s considered an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle.

Is my car a ULEV? What vehicles qualify as ULEVs?

If you drive a petrol or diesel car, it’s safe to assume that your car is probably not a ULEV.

Hybrids and Mild Hybrids do most of their work with a petrol engine, so they emit around 126g/km of CO2 – which is less but not considered ultra-low.

A plug-in hybrid, on the other hand, does more heavy lifting with the electric motor, and so most will emit around 35g/km – taking it below the 75g/km threshold.

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) don’t burn any fuel when driven, and so their tailpipes emissions are 0g/km – which definitely qualifies them as Ultra Low Emissions Vehicles.

What are the benefits of having a ULEV?

A lot of cities, such as London, Oxford or Birmingham, have low emission or clean air zones that higher-polluting cars will have to pay to drive through. Most newer petrol and diesel cars will meet the criteria for driving around without charge, but that’s not to say the emissions limit may change in the future.

Having a ULEV car, such as a Hybrid or Electric car, may future proof you, if you do a lot of city driving.

General traffic charges, such as London’s Congestion Charge, will still be applicable, but you’ll likely be able to avoid the ULEZ (Ultra-Low Emissions Zone) charge – saving you £12.50 per day!

What’s the difference between ULEV and LEV?

ULEVs – Ultra-low Emission Vehicles – emit less more than 75g/km of CO2, and must have an electric-only range of more than 20 miles. This means that only plug-in hybrids or battery EVs can be considered ULEVs.

LEVs – Low Emission Vehicles – must emit no more than 100g/km of CO2, but have no requirement on battery-only range. This could include hybrid or mild hybrids, and some petrol cars. It will also include some plug-in hybrids too.

Can I get a ULEV on Salary Sacrifice?

Absolutely, yes!

There’s also a wave of benefits to driving a ULEV through salary sacrifice:

• Fixed monthly costs with no deposit to pay removes a key barrier to driving a ULEV – the price. All-inclusive bundles also mean you’ll be able to predict and budget all costs related to driving.
• Benefit in Kind tax brackets are chosen by a car’s emissions, so the lower your emissions, the less tax you’ll pay! Fully electric cars are currently taxed at 3%, rising to 9% in 2029.
• Tax and National Insurance savings from your gross salary.
• Lower emissions generally means better fuel economy too, which will save you money at the pumps.

FAQs

• What does ULEV stand for?
  • Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle – which is any vehicle that emits less than 75g of CO2 per kilometre driven.
• Are all electric cars ULEVs?
  • Yes! Whether you drive 10 miles or 100 miles, an electric car won’t produce any CO2 at all.
• Is a hybrid car a ULEV?
  • Not necessarily – it will depend on what car you drive. Plug in hybrids have the best chance at being ULEVs, but full hybrids or mild hybrids may not be counted as they use the electric motor less, or have a battery-only range of under 20 miles.
• Is it cheaper to get a ULEV through Salary Sacrifice?
  • Generally speaking, you will save money by getting a ULEV through salary sacrifice. You’ll make savings on tax and national insurance, which will outweigh Benefit in Kind tax payments.