£25 charge on SUV's in London

Drivers of high-powered sports cars and 4x4s will be hit by a new £25 charge every time they enter central London under plans to reduce congestion and cut pollution across the capital.

London mayor Ken Livingstone said today that around 30,000 of the worst-polluting vehicles would face a threefold price rise from October, while the most environmentally-friendly cars would be able enter the congestion charging zone free of charge.

"The CO2 charge will encourage people to switch to cleaner vehicles or public transport and ensure that those who choose to carry on driving the most polluting vehicles help pay for the environmental damage they cause," Livingstone said.

"This is the polluter pays principle. At the same time, the 100% discount for the lowest CO2 emitting vehicles will give drivers an incentive to use the least polluting cars available."

Livingstone said the new charge was part of a package of measures, including the introduction of a clean air zone and a £500m investment in walking and cycling, that would help London reduce its CO2 emissions by 60% by 2025

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/feb/12/carbonemissions.congestioncharging

selfish to care, even if we are killing our own children by poisoning the environment.

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

On the one hand, cutting CO2 emissions is a great goal but on the other, I wonder if allowing "the most environmentally-friendly cars would be able enter the congestion charging zone free of charge" is going to undermine the whole point of the congestion zone.

But it won't prevent them.

If you can afford a modern-day SUV, then £25 is NOT going to be a huge obstacle.

Still, it's a step in the right direction.

Hell, maybe a US city may follow suit.

In 2020.

Modern-day SUVs are not always so expensive. You can get a 4x4 Jeep Patriot for under $20k. Even a $25 fee every day on that would quickly add up to more than the car payment. (Sorry for using US values - I am sure that the example works fine with UK prices as well)

They are also going to reduce the congestion charge for low-pollution vehicles at the same time.