SUV Owners Must Pay $50 Per Day to Drive in London

4 years ago Technology

London Mayor Ken Livingstone has partially built his career on making London more environmentally friendly.

trafficPiccadilly Circus in central London

He’s made a few missteps in tackling environmental problems, such as the recent law he was promoting that would have hurt on bike use in the city. But today, in the thick of his mayoral re-election campaign, he announced what is in effect a massive tax hike on gas guzzling vehicles in the city of London.

London already charges a tax, known as a congestion charge, on almost all vehicles that enter central and parts of west London. Certain vehicles, such as those hybrids or eco-friendly fuel cars are exempt. Livingstone’s most recent announcement, however, vastly increases the charge for the highest polluting vehicles.

Vehicles in band G, those that emit more than 225 grams of CO2 per kilometre, will pay a whopping £25($50) every day to enter the congestion zone. This will mostly affect heavy 4x4 vehicles. Most other vehicles will continue to pay the daily charge of £8($16).

Livingstone had previously discussed the congestion charge hike, but likely chose to formally announce it now in an effort to strengthen his campaign. He has frequently highlighted his “green” credentials throughout the campaign.

Livingstone said in a written statement: "A key issue at the election is my proposal for a £25-a-day charge for the most CO2-emitting vehicles entering the congestion-charging zone and, after consultation, I will be able to take a decision on this in the coming month. On the environment, the choice is even starker. [Mayoral opponent Boris Johnson] is one of the few politicians who supported George W Bush in opposing the Kyoto treaty."

The move has come under some criticism from the Automobile Association. They argue the charge will penalize small business owners who use vans to conduct business in the city, as well as large families who must use bigger vehicles to travel. *Update* The car manufacturer Porsche is going to sue London over these new regulations Info from Guardian Unlimited

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Written by: Chris

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Comments

Old Comments

Domainer says

Mar 24th, 2009 at 12am
14 months on from this original post, things have changed. But they haven't changed because off the price effects. Its just not trendy to have an SUV in Notting Hill anymore! Swop the Cayene now for a smart car before you get ridiculed at The Portobello Dangler!

Tips Photo says

Feb 6th, 2009 at 12am
This was interesting to read but don't think it would work where I live.

DavidVGoliath says

Nov 18th, 2008 at 12am
First, they make the clean technology suppressed, then they force you with 'technology' that blows smoke into the air, & then blame YOU for it... Check out my website!

Alicia says

Nov 6th, 2008 at 12am
This was really interesting to learn about and it added fuel to my fire. There should be a fee to drive SUV's!

Pete says

Mar 26th, 2008 at 12am
Nice attempt to save the environment from pollution. Kudos to Livingstone! But this will affect the middle class category to a greater extend.

SinStar says

Feb 15th, 2008 at 12am
The harder it is for people to drive coupe-killer SUVs the better. These vehicles are absurdly dangerous to OTHER drivers on the road, regardless of how safe they are (they actually aren’t really) for the occupants. SUV and large truck owners are selfish to assume they have the liberty to put other people in more danger to keep themselves safe. How about the liberty to have a chance of surviving an accident, aren’t you coupe-killing SUV drivers taking that away from the car drivers? Isn’t the right to life more important than the right to buy a large vehicle?
It is selfish to assume that the socialist/commies should make everyone drive small cars. Who the fuck do you people think you are? What blows my mind is many think it is okay for this type of control. This controlling and taxation that you nutters love so much is why you lost the Revolutionary War -- Americans value their freedom and do not want the government to infringe socialistic ideologies and tax people to death. Why do you nutters think that it is a good idea for the government to protect people from themselves?

Paragon says

Feb 14th, 2008 at 12am
The harder it is for people to drive coupe-killer SUVs the better. These vehicles are absurdly dangerous to OTHER drivers on the road, regardless of how safe they are (they actually aren't really) for the occupants. SUV and large truck owners are selfish to assume they have the liberty to put other people in more danger to keep themselves safe. How about the liberty to have a chance of surviving an accident, aren't you coupe-killing SUV drivers taking that away from the car drivers? Isn't the right to life more important than the right to buy a large vehicle?

Riccardo says

Feb 13th, 2008 at 12am
(sorry for my english) BUT... I cant afford a SUV but if i had the money I would recommend this to my wife or to my son! These car are very safe car, they will protect you in case of accident, you can have a better visual of the street etc. However there could be someone that bought this car and maybe is not so rich but he needed it! in this case Livingstone will penalize normal people and rich people will be continuing going around for the city! Moreover he is telling people to doing this to reduce co2 or to create a "clean" London, this is not the case! With the congestion charge the traffic in the city is the same, but the people now have to pay more money to enter in the city. Why penalize the SUV owners when in a city as London there are a lot of huge cars that have a engine average around 3000 cc, I told AVERAGE! This will be only a tax and only invidious people that can afford or they don't like a SUV will appreciate this law! I don't really think that the suv are the biggest problem in london and are the cause of a large emission of co2! Real problem are others.

Michael says

Feb 10th, 2008 at 12am
Gee... so many people just love telling others what to do while stealing their money.

mike says

Feb 4th, 2008 at 12am
How can you in your right mind tax someone because they can afford a certain car and choose to drive that car. I thought England was a free country? Apparently freedoms here in the United States aren’t the only ones being forced to the wayside by ridiculous policies. Sure its a choice - noones banning you from driving one, but you have to recognise that by driving something that takes up three as much space and pumps out three times as much pollution as a normal car you will be penalised three times as much money. pretty simple.
No it is not pretty simple, it is not that cut and dry. Why should someone be penalized by purchasing a larger vehicle? That makes no rational sense. Larger families for example, you need to get all of them to one place? should they take two vehicles and add to more congestion and pollution? Why should someone be taxed for having a larger family?