No Higher Toll For "gas Guzzlers" In London

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 05:39

London will not introduce a higher inner city toll. While plaintiff Porsche was celebrating, the former mayor saw a "further setback" in the fight against climate change.

After a successful lawsuit by the German car manufacturer Porsche, London is now not introducing a higher inner city toll for high-powered cars. London Mayor Boris Johnson said on Tuesday that he was “pleased” that the higher city toll does not come into force. The conservative politician had already promised before he took office in May that his predecessor Ken Livingstone would drop the increase for "fuel guzzlers" to 25 pounds (31.5 euros). Porsche filed a lawsuit against the fee in April.

17 percent of cars are affected

Drivers currently have to pay eight pounds a day to drive through the British capital. Livingstone wanted to increase the fee for cars that emit more than 225 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer driven from October 27th. In contrast, climate-friendly cars should roll through the city for free. Around 17 percent of London cars - including Porsche models - would have been affected by the higher toll.

"We were always sure that we would win in the end," said Andy Goss, director of the British subsidiary Porsche Cars Great Britain. According to Porsche, the intended toll would have even increased carbon dioxide emissions. Livingstone, on the other hand, criticized the decision as “another setback” for London in trying to combat climate change. (dpa)