Ken Livingstone has announced the start of formal consultation on plans to introduce a new charge for the cars that make the biggest contribution to global warming such as the so-called ‘Chelsea tractors’, high powered sports cars and expensive luxury vehicles.
Under the proposals drivers of these vehicles would face charges of up to £25 to drive in the Congestion Charge zone. The charge would not apply to vehicles outside the zone. The new scheme would also see the least polluting vehicles receive a 100 per cent discount and not pay any congestion charge at all.
Mr Livingstone said GLA bodies were “already cleaning up London’s fleet of public vehicles through measures like the introduction of hybrid buses. These new proposals will tackle emissions from private vehicles, and ensure that London is leading the way in the fight against catastrophic climate change”
The new charges would be as follows:
Low-CO2 emitting cars would attract a 100 per cent discount. This group includes cars in Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) Bands A and B (less than 120g CO2 per km) which also meet Euro 4 air quality standard
VED Bands C, D, E and those in F with emissions up to 225g CO2 per km would continue to pay the current £8 daily charge.
VED Band G and equivalent vehicles (above 225g CO2 per km), as well as those registered pre March 2001 with engines larger than 3,000 cc, would pay the higher £25 a day charge.
The consultation will start on Friday 10th August and end on 19th October.
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