London may bar petrol ride-hail cars from 2028 - consultation open until Dec 2

At a glance

TfL consultation deadline

Consultation open until 2 December 2026, according to electrive

Current London PHV electrification

35.5% of 94,661 licensed PHVs in London were fully battery-electric as of September 2026 (TfL via electrive)

EU BEV registrations in September

290,117 new BEVs in the EU in September 2026; 29.9% market share that month (ACEA via electrive)

GM platform efficiency gains

GM says new EV platform cuts weight by 15%, improves aerodynamics by 25% and reduces powertrain components by 40% (electrive)

What TfL is proposing

Transport for London has launched a public consultation proposing that from 2028 only fully battery electric vehicles would be eligible for new private hire vehicle licences. The rule would apply to cars dispatched via ride-hailing apps such as Uber, Bolt and Lyft as well as traditional minicabs, but would not cover separately regulated taxis. Wheelchair-accessible PHVs would get a longer transition up to July 2030, electrive reported on 22 October 2026.

The consultation also sets out other licensing changes: from March 2027 PHVs older than ten years could no longer hold a licence, and licence renewal periods would be shortened so that any vehicle failing to renew on time would be treated as a new application and have to meet the rules in force at that moment. TfL says the measures aim to cut air pollution and CO2 emissions from the private hire fleet.

How this fits with the wider EV wave in Europe

Electrive summarised new figures from ACEA showing sharp BEV growth in September 2026: 290,117 battery electric passenger cars were registered across the EU that month, taking BEV market share to 29.9% in September and 22.7% year to date. The European market is clearly shifting, and regulators in big cities are responding by tightening access for petrol and diesel vehicles.

Manufacturers are also accelerating. General Motors on 22 October announced a new, more efficient EV platform that it says reduces weight, improves aerodynamics and cuts component count, enabling cheaper, higher volume EVs. Changes in supply and platform costs could make it easier for fleets and ride-hail drivers to switch to electric in the coming years.

What it means for Irish drivers

A London decision would not automatically change Irish law, but it would matter here for two reasons. First, many technology and regulatory ideas travel quickly between major cities; Dublin City Council and the National Transport Authority have been watching European practice on low emission zones and licensing closely. Second, a stricter London rule would add commercial pressure on ride-hail operators that also operate in Ireland to prioritise electric vehicles when expanding or renewing local fleets.

For drivers operating in Dublin and other Irish cities the immediate signal is clear: urban fleet operators are planning for a largely electric future. That will influence used car supply and prices for popular models used in private hire. If fleet demand for EVs rises, battery electric examples are likely to become more common on the Irish used market, but that could also push up prices for the best low-cost, high-range models unless supply increases.

Looking ahead

TfL's consultation runs until 2 December 2026, and the proposals are not law. If adopted they would take effect in 2028 for new licences and in July 2030 for wheelchair-accessible PHVs. Irish regulators may study the outcomes closely before considering similar conditions for app-based services here, but any change would need to fit Ireland's own licensing, accessibility and vehicle taxation arrangements.

Meanwhile Irish drivers should expect continued growth in BEV availability. ACEA's September data shows almost three in ten new cars in the EU were fully electric that month, while manufacturers such as GM are promising cheaper, more efficient EVs from 2028. For anyone who drives for hire or plans to sell a diesel or petrol vehicle in coming years, electrification is now a planning item rather than a distant possibility.