Environmentally friendly vans to pay congestion charges

Even the most environmentally friendly of vans will be forced to continue paying the London Congestion Charge next year after Transport for London stated that they did not believe a levy on the fee would encourage manufacturers to produce greater numbers of green commercial vehicles.

Despite the best efforts of manufacturers to cut the emissions of vans, there is a strict threshold in place currently which limits the number of vehicles exempt from the charge. The threshold for emissions stands at 100g/km which only the Ford Fiesta Van currently meets, apart of course from all of the electrical vehicles which exist.

A spokesman from Transport for London explained the decision: “Transport for London considers it unlikely that a congestion charge discount would provide a sizeable enough incentive in what is a particularly competitive market where manufacturers are already striving to produce fuel efficient vehicles.”

Under changes to the scheme which are due to come into force on 4 January 2011, passenger cars which produce up to 100g/km of CO2 and meet the Euro 5 standard for air quality will not be liable to pay the charge, which is set to increase from £8 to £10 per day.

Transport for London admitted that because the DVLA does not record the CO2 limit of vans and HGVs, it would be difficult to control a Greener Vehicle Discount for commercial vehicles.

Vans however, are included in the 100% discount available on electric vehicles, which Transport for London is in the process of extending to cover plug-in hybrid electric vehicles from next year.

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