Porsche Challenge Ken Over £25 Congestion Charge

Ken Livingstone’s proposed congestion charge of £25, to be applied to 4×4s and high emission vehicles, has been challenged by Porsche. They have said that the £25 daily charge is unfair and would not lead to a cut in carbon dioxide emissions.

Earlier this month the Mayor of London confirmed that his new congestion charges would be introduced in October of this year (if he is re-elected in May). All vehicles emitting more than 225 grams of CO2 per kilometre and all vehicles registered before March 2001 with engines that are larger than 3000cc would be required to pay £25 to enter central london during peak hours between 7am and 6pm, Monday to Friday. These rules mean that many high powered sports cars and some saloons join the 4×4 Chelsea tractors in the top congestion charge bracket.

Most cars will still fall into the £8 congestion charge band and Ken Livingstone has stated that ‘Nobody needs to damage the environment by driving a gas-guzzling Chelsea tractor in London’. He says that the CO2 charges will encourage drivers to switch to cleaner vehicles or public transport and serve to encourage manufacturers to make cleaner engines.

Porsche have claimed that it is illegal for Ken Livingstone to introduce this policy, although the 1999 Greater London Authority Act gives the Mayor the power to do so. They intend to make a submission to the courts if Mr Livingstone refuses to reconsider his plans.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 27th, 2008 at 4:45 pm and is filed under Car and Van Info. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.