"Congestion charge inequality lands low-CO2 van fleet with £3,000 bill"

I recently posted an entry about green cars and mentioned the benefits of vehicles emitting less than 100g/km of CO₂ being exempt from road tax and the London Congestion Charge. I just read an article about Vauxhall Commercial Vehicles customer Plantire speaking out in regards to how unfair it is that light commercial vehicles under 3.5 tonnes with sub-100g/km CO₂ emissions are not exempt from the London Congestion Charge. Plantire, a hoist hire firm based near Heathrow, runs two Corsavans as service vehicles that makes on average about six journeys per week into the Congestion Charge zone and feels they are unjustly being penalised for running a low-CO₂ van in London amounting to £3,000 per year, in turn nearly negating any fuel cost savings they chose the Vauxhall vans for. John Tocher, Plantire’s general manager said: “Although we knew when we ordered the Corsavans that they were not exempt, we felt sure that Transport for London would change the exemption. It makes sense that if cars with emissions under 100g/km CO₂ are exempt, vans emitting less than 100g/km CO₂ shouldn’t have to pay the Congestion Charge either.” I am not in any position of power to change this, but I certainly would offer my support for fairness and equality by doing business with companies trying to do the right thing in using low CO2 vehicles. Do you think commercial vans with the same low level emissions as cars should also be exempt?

The article published on Vauxhall's media UK news website includes additional details. To read more, click here.