New rules will increase C02 emissions and congestion, says Clean Green Cars

Transport for London’s new emission-based London congestion charge rules are likely to increase CO2 emissions, increase pollution and increase congestion, says Clean Green Cars. The new charging structure, which exempts vehicles emitting 120g/km or less, has been framed on the basis that only two percent of cars already on Britain’s roads fall within this category. However, over 200 of the 4000 new models on the market today already achieve 120g/km or less, and their share of the new car market is increasing rapidly - in January 2008 these models accounted for 7.4 percent of the new car market, up from 5.4 percent in January 2007 - and new low CO2 models are being offered every month. Some 30 additional models went on sale in January alone, and Clean Green Cars publisher and car market analyst Jay Nagley believes that the ‘it could be well over 10 percent by the end of the year.’

While encouraging the sales of low emission models is to be applauded, the framing of the new rules is likely to encourage greater use of cars within the capital, especially when consumers realise that there is a wide choice of attractive and affordable new cars - ranging from the Audi A3 105TDi to the new Mini and the VW Polo - that will be exempt them from the charge. The result will be significant numbers of charge-exempt models on the roads, potentially leading to higher carbon dioxide emissions, and more congestion, which London mayor Ken Livingstone says he still wants to limit.

Clean Green Cars also believes that TfL will have to modify the policy soon after it kicks in this October when it discovers that its revenue from the charge - already insufficient to cover the costs of operating the system - begins to drop as more people switch to low CO2 models.

It’s also likely that some better-off owners of models producing more than 225g/km - now facing a a £25 daily charge - who live inside the zone and no longer qualify for a 90 percent reduction will buy an additional, low CO2 model to supplement their larger car. That additional low CO2 model will likely be used more because it is exempt from any charge. The potential monthly congestion charge costs of around £500 faced by the owner of a 225g/km-and-over vehicle living inside the zone is more than enough to cover the cost of buying a new small car.

Clean Green Cars editor Richard Bremner said, ‘While the principle of encouraging people to use low CO2 cars is a good one, these rule changes are ill-conceived. The 120g/km exemption risks increasing overall CO2 levels in London, the harshness of the penalty at the upper end could see an increase car ownership, and the rule changes ignore TfL’s own commissioned study suggesting that any saving of would have a ‘negligible’ impact on London’s CO2 emissions. And the 120g/km threshold is too easy for many manufacturers to achieve - we need a tougher target that speeds the arrival of ultra-low emission models. These rule changes provide little incentive.’

For a run-down on which models achieve 120g/km and below, visit cleangreencars.co.uk.