London considers diversified emission charge
London motorists could be charged varying congestion charges, based on the time of entering the congestion zone and on their vehicles' greenhouse gas emission standards.
According to an article in the Evening Standard "the £8 (EUR8.70, MiM) daily rate could be lowered in the middle of the day to help businesses operating in the zone while the higher tariff could operate in the rush hour.
(London Mayor, MiM) Boris Johnson is also considering applying different charges according to the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by different vehicles. (...)
One model TfL (Transport for London, MiM) having been considering is the "intelligent" congestion system pioneered in Stockholm.
Under the Swedish system, payments depend on the time of day that motorists enter the congestion charge zone. At peak hours drivers pay 20 krona (£1.65) (or EUR1.80, MiM) but in some off-peak hours the charge is half the price."
Our take: this sounds like a good development, where motorist get rewarded for opting for off-peak and less carbon intensive travel.
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