Hybrids To Be Clobbered!

[hawk20]

Owners of green hybrid cars have been sent reeling by the news that they will no longer be exempt from congestion charging under tough new plans.

Spearheading the change is London, which is revising its system so that drivers of the likes of the Lexus RX400h (right), GS450h and LS600h will have to pay the toll. And the move is being watched closely by other UK councils – including those in Manchester, Durham and Edinburgh – which are considering introducing charging schemes of their own.

The new proposals for the capital are based on how much a vehicle pollutes. Those which emit 120g/km or less of CO2 (see panel, right) will be exempt from the £8 daily charge. But owners of cars that put out more than 225g/km of the greenhouse gas will have to pay £25 a day – or £5,300 a year – with no discount even if they live within the zone.

The plans, which are currently at the consultation stage, but could be brought in as soon as February next year, were blasted by RAC Foundation boss Edmund King. He told Auto Express: “When the charge was introduced, London Mayor Ken Livingstone was clear it was about cutting congestion.

“Initially, it did by 30 per cent, but that’s crept down to only a six or eight per cent reduction. As it’s not working, he’s looking for other excuses for the charge.”

Christopher Macgowan, chief executive of industry group the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said: “A fam¬ily whose car has emissions 1g/km higher than their neighbour’s could end up paying thousands more every year. That can’t be right.”

Both Macgowan and King were concerned that families with big MPVs such as the Renault Esp¬ace or Peugeot 807 could be punished.
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/209922/now_ccharge_targets_polluters.html

 

[MBZ560]

Damm. I'll have to sell the prius and by another Merc.

 

[angus falconer]

The whole thing is highly dubious

Autocar this week did their sums and reckon that about 60% of the revenue goes straight to the outfit who run the cameras.

They reckon that if the start up costs were taken into account the scheme would barely scrape into profit.

They also noted that 30% of the revenue comes from late penalty charges.

To cap it all it's now suddenly about pollution not congestion......

So it's bascially political posturing

Those folk in Edinburgh were right to vote against it.......

 

[jberks]

Simply proves what we always knew. Congestion charges, like speed cameras and the like, are simply more lies by a Gov't that is less honest and more corrupt (I didn't believe it was possible but ...!) than Magggies lot at the end of their run. In any other country there would be campaigns of civil disobedience but we just take it.

The national congestion charge was proven to be a lie when they got Durham, Manchester etc to bring them on board locally. They then said they would only introduce it if all the local councils agreed. Several in Manchester said no, so suddenly it's a 'Majority' vote!

When they originally came up with it, they said that it would be a national cost netural scheme, set against road tax and fuel tax, as its aim was to cut congestion. Drive on congested roads and you pay, don't and it will be cheaper. Fair enough. Then they introduce it in local areas and because it isn't national (though it will be soon enough) 'forget' the whole road and fuel tax promise.

London is an anomoly, especially in the centre. Perhaps I'm off beam here but I'd imagine that if you can afford to live in central london with a family, you're rich enough not to care anyway. If you're single, £5k will get you a nice 'eco' car so don't use the big one most of the time and in any case, London has a usable public transport system.