Ken Livingstone, the London Mayor, has today given the green light to a £25 charge for high powered sports cars and so-called ‘Chelsea tractors’ to drive in Central London.
The controversial scheme will mean that from October 27 cars with the highest greenhouse gas emissions will pay the daily charge within the Congestion Zone.
Meanwhile cars with the lowest CO2 emissions (Bands A and B) will receive a 100 per cent discount, which the Mayor hopes will make people go green.
These vehicles emit less than 120g of C02 per kilometre.
The scheme is a key part of the Mayor's Climate Change Action Plan, which aims to reduce London's C02 emissions by 60 per cent by 2025.
Gas guzzlers that will be charged £25 to drive in the zone are Band G, and emit over 225g of C02 per kilometre.
The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, said: ‘Nobody needs to damage the environment by driving a gas guzzling Chelsea Tractor in central London.
‘The CO2 emissions from the most high powered 4x4s and sports cars can be up to four times as great of those of the least polluting cars.
‘The CO2 charge will encourage people to switch to cleaner vehicles or public transport and ensure that those who choose to carry on driving the most polluting vehicles help pay for the environmental damage they cause.’