New Congestion charge in London..

[nthfinity]

From October 27th, drivers of high-polluting cars will have to pay £25 to enter London's congestion zone. The charge applies to vehicles which emit over 225 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre, which includes most 4x4s and some people-carriers. Drivers of these vehicles who live inside the congestion zone will also lose their right to a 90% discount on the congestion charge. The lowest-emitting cars will be exempted altogether. For all other cars the charge will remain £8. The plan was announced on February 12th by Mr Livingstone, who said the increased revenue—which he put at £30m to £50m—would be spent on improving the capital’s cycle network.

Curious, as cars like the Noble M12 GTO fall into the £8 loophole, where the M12 has no emissions results

[HeilSvenska]

LONDON (Reuters) - Luxury carmaker Porsche said on Tuesday it planned to legally challenge London mayor Ken Livingstone's decision to help fight global warming by taxing gas guzzling cars driving in the city centre. Porsche said on Tuesday the 25 pound ($48.74) daily charge was unfair, would not cut emissions of carbon dioxide and would deter businesses from moving to the city. "A massive congestion charge increase is quite simply unjust," said Andy Goss, Managing Director of Porsche Cars GB. "Thousands of car owners driving a huge range of cars will be hit by a disproportionate tax which is clear will have a very limited effect on CO2 emissions," he added. Livingstone rejected the move as a public relations stunt and called it an attack on Londoners. "No one is allowed to throw their rubbish in the street and Porsche should not be allowed to impose gas guzzling polluting cars on Londoners who do not want them," he told reporters. Announcing the plan last week Livingstone admitted that it would have little immediate effect on carbon emissions but said it would discourage people from driving polluting cars in the city centre and encourage manufacturers to make cleaner engines. He said the new scheme would raise 30 million to 50 million pounds a year and cover most of the cost of a major cycling initiative that will include a Paris-style roadside bicycle hire scheme in the city centre. Livingstone, who has made the environment a central plank of his tenure, is facing a tough re-election battle in May. If he loses, his emissions policy is likely to go with him. ... Porsche said it would write to Livingstone this week asking him to reconsider the plan. If he failed to respond in 14 days or refused to reconsider the plan that will come into force in October, the carmaker would make a submission to the courts for a judicial review. "The proposed increase will be bad for London as a whole and will send out the signal that it is not serious about establishing itself as the best place in the world to do business," Goss said. The court could force a delay, alteration or even a rejection of the plan. A judicial challenge by Greenpeace last year forced the government to mount a major public consultation on its proposals for a new fleet of nuclear power stations.

Good. At least someone's taking actions.

[GMET]

so are congestion charges a "per-use" fee, similar to a toll?

[HeilSvenska]

Yes, except that London is toll road. So if you happen to own an Audi R8 (and not a Prius), but have business in in inner London, you're forced to pay that much for just being there.

[Carbodiox]

Thats pretty sick