motoring guide

The Low Emission Zone and C-Charge explained

In a bid to improve air quality in the capital, former London Mayor Ken Livingstone enlarged the Congestion Charge Zone westwards, stepped up congestion charges and enforced higher levies for the most polluting vehicles such as high performace sports cars and 4 x 4's or "Chelsea tanks".

According to MSN's Green Motoring guide, ground based transport, including trains and buses, accounts for 22 per cent of the capital's carbon dioxide emissions - so exactly what affect will the new emissions regime have on London's motorists?

The Low Emission Zone (LEZ), which covers most of greater London, was introduced in February. Under the scheme, the most polluting vehicles that do not meet specific standards pay a daily charge. Vehicles affected by the LEZ are older diesel-engine lorries, buses, coaches, large vans, minibuses and heavy vehicles derived from lorries and vans, such as motor caravans and motorised horse boxes. The restriction includes vehicles registered outside of Great Britain.

• Visit the Transport for London website for full details of the Low Emission Zone

There will be a phased introduction of the scheme, which started on February 4th 2008, through to January 2012. Cars and motorcycles may not be included in the LEZ but they will certainly be affected by radical changes to the London Congestion Charge made by Mr Livingstone. The levy is changing from a blanket charge of £8 a day for all vehicles that enter central London to an environmental charge based on the carbon dioxide emissions of the vehicle.

All cars in the new Vehicle Excise Duty bands A and B - which emit 120g/km of carbon dioxide or less - will pay no charge. To gain free entry, the owner needs to register with Transport for London and pay an annual £10 administration fee. The majority of cars - those emitting between 121-225g/km of carbon dioxide - will face an £8 daily charge to enter the congestion zone. In addition, cars that emit less than 120g/km of carbon dioxide but do not meet EUIV emissions standards and cars built before 2001 will also pay the £8 charge.

The biggest change will come for drivers of vehicles which emit more than 225g/km of carbon dioxide who will be hit with a £25 daily charge from October 6th. Cars over 3.0-litres and built before March 2001 will also pay the higher levy while drivers of top rate cars who live in the congestion zone will no longer receive a resident's discount, MSN Green Motoring reports. However, critics claim that in allowing cars in bands A and B of VED into central London for free, Mr Livingstone is undermining measures to help the environment by stunting the growth of the electric car market. Businessgreen.com reports that experts claim demand for electric cars such as the G-Wiz and Mega City Nice Car has been fuelled by the fact that only electric cars and a number of hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles were exempt from the congestion charge.

"By treating band B vehicles that emit up to 120g carbon dioxide per km the same as Band A vehicles, it sends out very confusing signals to the public," Keith Johnston, managing director of G-Wiz supplier GoinGreen told the news provider. "The announcement … is likely to have a negative impact on investment in electric cars and perpetuate the internal combustion engine," he added. Eveit Geursten, co-founder of the Nice Car Company supported these claims. "London has more electric cars on its roads than any other city and we have a strong emerging industry. It should be being encouraged by tax breaks and incentives, not abandoned," he said.

In addition, Businessgreen.com reports that a recent report from the Centre for Economics and Business Research - albeit commissioned by Land Rover - found that the changes to the charging system could unintentionally lead to increased congestion and air pollution. "The behaviour that heavily penalising Band G cars will incur is that people will pay the charge or trade down to a more efficient car, they are not about to get on a bus. Meanwhile, people with Band B cars that were previously displaced onto public transport by the congestion charge will now be able to drive for free – the changes could easily lead to more congestion," author Mark Pragnell explained.

As well as being criticised by green car manufactures, Mr Livingstone has also been attacked by the makers of gas guzzling vehicles. Andy Goss, managing director of Porsche Cars GB, called the decision to increase the charges from £8 to £25 for vehicles that emit large amounts of carbon "simply unjust", and claimed thousands of car owners would be hit by a disproportionate tax which would have a limited effect on carbon dioxide emissions. The company, alongside the London Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, is currently seeking a judicial review to overturn the ruling.

However, responding to a survey which found almost two-third of Londoners backed the congestion charge changes, Mr Livingstone said: "Luxury car manufacturers such as Porsche should take the hint and put their energy into reducing the carbon emissions of their cars instead of pursuing pointless legal action against this ground-breaking policy."

Boris Johnson, the new Mayor of London, is under pressure to deliver a promised referendum on the western extension to the congestion charge zone. While his opposition to the proposed c-charge increases for "gas guzzlers" is well-known, it is unclear whether the plans are to be dropped by the incoming mayor.

29 May 2008