Environmental Directory

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Challenge to review congestion charge

Volvo Car UK has  challenged the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to review the basis of charging for the London congestion charging zone.

The company believes that the principle of hybrid cars being exempt from the Congestion Charge is now outdated and unfair. Drivers of hybrid cars enter the zone free of charge on a daily basis while drivers of low emission cars powered by conventional internal combustion engines with the same, or even lower, levels of emissions are charged £8.00 per day. This 'tax' could add a financial burden of over £2,000 per year to those drivers who have selected a traditionally-powered low emission car.

The apparent disparity was highlighted to Boris Johnson by Stuart Kerr, regional president for Europe from Volvo Car Corporation when he collected the What Car? Green Car of the Year award from The Mayor. This was followed up by a letter to The Mayor's office.

What Car? has also joined Stuart Kerr in the call for a review. What Car? editor, Steve Fowler, says: "We’d welcome a review of the regulations that govern which cars are exempt from Congestion Charging. At the moment, there’s confusion among car buyers and the car industry. Some cars that use conventional engine technology yet have very low CO2 figures aren’t exempt, but hybrids with higher CO2 figures are!

And with an increasing number of low CO2 vehicles, including diesel hybrids, plug-in hybrids, range extenders and electric vehicles, now is the ideal time to re-open the debate and we’d be delighted to be part of it."

Hybrid-powered cars have CO2 outputs ranging from 89g/km to 219g/km, yet all are exempt from the London Congestion Charge. Volvo's What Car? Green Car of the Year-winning S40 1.6D DRIVe with start / stop technology emits just 104g/km. Similarly, Volvo's DRIVe C30 Sportscoupe and V50 Sportswagon models also emit 104g/km but none of them are exempt from the charge.

Those car owners affected are being encouraged to register their support at he web address below.

www.volvo.com



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