Proposed changes to the system of exemptions to the London Congestion Charge face opposition from environmentalists who argue that a new system would make air quality in the city worse.
The plans would mean that ultra-low CO2 emitting diesel cars would become exempt for the congestion charge for the first time alongside other vehicles which emit below 100g/km of CO2. The current system allows all hybrid vehicles to go charge-free regardless their emission levels, in some cases this has allowed cars with high CO2 emission levels to qualify for exemption while low emitting conventionally-fuelled vehicles have been penalised.
A consortium of carmakers, including Volvo, called for a consultation into the old system to redress this imbalance, arguing that the congestion charge rules should be changed to focus on CO2 emission levels rather than technology used. However, air quality campaigners are countering that it is not just CO2 emissions that the London Mayor, Boris Johnson, should be concerned with. Even the cleanest diesel engines emit higher levels of other greenhouse gases such as Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and particle emissions than petrol and hybrid petrol engines. In some cases oxides of nitrogen emissions are three times higher in diesel cars than their equivalent petrol engines.
The Mayor launched a public consultation to the proposed changes back in May. The proposed ‘Greener Vehicle Discount’ would allow all cars that emit under 100g/km CO2 and met the Euro 5 air quality standard to avoid the £8 per day charge to drive through central London.
In response to that consultation, Ed Dearnley, policy officer at pollution campaigners Environmental Protection UK wrote: “ The Mayor’s proposed ‘Greener Vehicles Discount’ is misguided, effectively enabling many mass market diesel vehicles free entry to the charging area. We instead call on the Mayor to use congestion charging exemptions to encourage emerging vehicle technologies. What is the incentive for individuals and businesses to buy an expensive, short ranged electric vehicle if cheap, mass market diesel vehicles receive exactly the same congestion charge exemptions?”
After the City of London reached dangerously high levels of minute pollution particles for the 36th time this year only a month ago, Jenny Bates, Friends of the Earth London Campaigns Co-ordinator, told The Guardian: "Friends of the Earth supports measures that encourage people to buy low carbon emitting vehicles, but even the cleanest should pay something. The mayor must make sure there are no unintended consequences of his proposals for air quality, as EU legal limits must be met in London."
A recent report from the Environment Audi Committee also revealed that 50,000 people a year could be dying prematurely because of poor air quality in the UK.
The proposed changes are part of a Transport for London congestion charge consultation, which closes for submissions on 2 August.
