LONDON: London mayor Ken Livingstone has proposed a levy of 25 pounds a day on drivers who use gas-guzzling SUVs or sports cars in the central London congestion zone.
The mayor has suggested an emissions-based scheme for the city, which has now been released for consultation. According to the proposal, cars found to be producing more than 225 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer will face the levy. Vehicles that emit less than 120 grams of carbon dioxide will be exempted from the levy. Other vehicles will pay at the existing flat rate of 8 pounds.
Livingstone said in a statement that most vehicles that will be charged the penal 25 pounds -- vehicle excise duty band G -- are high priced vehicles and its owners can afford to choose from the mainstream car market, but they have chosen to buy the most polluting vehicles.
The mayor had introduced the central congestion zone in 2003 and had proposed its extension towards the west, which will begin in 2007. As per the existing scheme, drivers entering the congestion zone between 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on weekdays are required to pay 8 pounds a day or face a penalty of 50 pounds. A poll conducted in August found that over two-thirds of the people in London supported the mayor's plans to discourage the use of 4x4s.
The proposed plan will be introduced in 2009 after a legal review, the mayor said at a press conference. He has proposed to waive the congestion charge for drivers of gasoline-electric hybrid and electric cars.
Among the cars that will attract the 25-pound levy are BMW 760Li cars with gasoline engines, Land Rover Discovery 3 SUV with 4.4-liter engines and Jaguar XJ sedans with V8 engines.
Livingstone also announced that the discount of 90 per cent given to residents living within the congestion charging zone will be withdrawn for vehicles in band G.
