Huge increase to London Congestion Charge
confirmed for high emission cars

It’s now official that there will be huge rises in the London Congestion Charge for high emission vehicles. Cars in band G (which emit more than 225g of CO2 per kilometre) will rise to £25 – but not until 2009.

And if you live in the zone and have a band G car, the current 90% residents’ discount will disappear.

Cars in bands A and B, which produce emissions less than 120g CO2 per kilometre, will be completely exempt – from 2008. Remember that currently the only new cars on sale in the UK in band A (less then 100g/CO2) are electric cars (the now discontinued Honda Insight emits just 85g/km – perhaps this will now become a green collectors’ piece...).

Most cars, in band C, D and E will be unaffected and will continue to pay the £8 per day rate, which rose from the previous level of £5 in July.
If you have
However! The system is only likely to result in higher charges for higher emission band G cars registered after 23 March 2006. So more older high emission vehicles may therefore be seen on the streets...

Although the £25 band G charge is to start in 2009, mayor Ken Livingstone has asked Transport for London (TfL) to examine the possibilities of it being introduced before then.

Green-Car-Guide Comment:
“This increase was predicted, and now here it is. As our Green-Car-Guide e-book shows, there are some larger cars with low emissions, but not many. The rewards are increasingly there for manufacturers who are prepared to develop cars that are practical, stylish, desirable AND with low emissions – whatever your opinion about it, Toyota’s Prius IS a success – let’s see other manufacturers offering more mainstream cars with high mpg technologies.”

If you have one,why not air your view here?