London “Congestion Charge” Free For Sub 100g/km Euro 5 Compliant Cars

So it’s no congestion charge for you if you drive a sub 100g/km Co2 Euro 5 compliant car following a decision by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.

This wasn’t an easy won victory, but comes following a campaign by Volvo, who believed it was unfair that a hybrid car that produced higher Co2 emissions than many normal petrol or diesel cars, could get in free, just because it was a hybrid, whilst drivers of lower polluting normal cars were picking up the £8 charge.

Its no coincidence however that Volvo have three sub 100g/km in their range spread across C30, S40 and V50, so clearly its an equality thing as even the greenest amongst us would accept the rules as they were, were illogical and unfair.

However, it’s not just as simple as driving into the congestion zone and not paying, as you have to register with Transport for London for what’s known as “Greener Vehicle Discount” and that’s going to cost you £10 a year and you are going to be able to register anytime from the 4th January 2011 onwards.  The criteria is that your car is sub 100g/km and importantly Euro 5 compliant and if its not, you wont be able to take advantage of the scheme.

Having said all that, don’t expect this to be long term, as Transport for London will review the situation again in 2012 and with the number of all-electric and hybrid plug-in electric cars that are likely to be around by then, there is every likelihood that the 100g/km qualifying figure might even be dropped as low as 80g/km.

There is no doubt that car manufacturers have made enormous strides forward in the cars they offer us now and just a few years ago, the prospect of a car producing lower than 100g/km would have seemed like a fairy tale.  Despite this, it seems that the car makers are striving to get that figure lower and lower and “I suppose” who’s to say that won’t happen.

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