Porsche slams TfL for congestion charge increase

Transport for London’s plans to increase the congestion charge to £25-a-day for the highest polluting vehicles has come under renewed fire from car manufacturers and green groups.

Porsche has announced it will seek a judicial review into the price changes, while Clean Green Cars claims the new rules will lead to increased congestion and emissions.

Under the plans, which will come into force on October 27, cars with the lowest carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions will get a 100% discount on the charge, while drivers of the highest emitting vehicles will have to pay £25-a-day.

TfL predicts up to 22,000 fewer cars will come into the zone when the new fees are introduced but Porsche says the charges are “disproportionate” and “unjust” and will not decrease emissions in Central London.

Editor of Clean Green Cars, the green motoring guide, Richard Bremner agrees, adding that the number of low emission cars on the roads is increasing rapidly, which could lead to greater congestion in the capital.

He adds: “While the principle of encouraging people to use low CO2 cars is a good one, these rules changes are ill-conceived. The 120g/km threshold is too easy for many manufacturers to achieve. We need a tougher target that speeds up the arrival of ultra-low emission models.”