Diesel and hybrid cars to lose congestion charge exemption
DRIVERS of hybrid cars will be forced to pay the congestion charge if plans under consideration receive the green light, Transport for London (TfL) said yesterday.
Owners of some diesel-fuelled cars – as well as hybrids such as the Toyota Prius range – are currently exempt from the £10 fee for driving into central London by virtue of their low carbon dioxide emissions.
But TfL fears that drivers are taking advantage of this loophole and wants to lower the exemption limit from 100g/km of emissions to 75g/km. This would exclude most of the 2,500 drivers who currently enjoy the benefit on a daily basis.
Other proposals included in the ongoing consultation include raising the penalty for not paying the charge from £120 to £130 and removing the ability to pay the congestion charge in shops.