Get Off My Porsche!

Porsche launches legal challenge to London's congestion fee increase

Posted at 9:38 AM on 03 Apr 2008

German automaker Porsche has launched a formal legal challenge to London Mayor Ken Livingstone's scheduled tripling of the city's congestion fee for the most-polluting vehicles. The increase, slated to take effect in October, would raise the fee for the most-polluting vehicles entering the city center to about $50 a day from $16 now. Livingstone and the city's transportation department have said the fee helps decrease carbon emissions and other pollution by encouraging fewer of the dirtiest cars from entering the city. Porsche argues Livingstone doesn't have the legal authority to implement the increase and has said in court documents that it expects its U.K. sales to fall by about 11 percent if the higher charge is implemented. However, a survey of city residents by Transport for London revealed that about 61 percent of Londoners support the fee increase. "It's high time Porsche stopped fighting popular initiatives and started manufacturing cleaner vehicles," said Tony Juniper of Friends of the Earth.

sources: The Telegraph, Bloomberg

ADVERTISING POLICY

Comments: (3 comments)

You are not logged in. Thus, you cannot post a comment. If you have a Gristmill account, log in below. If you don't have a Gristmill account, well, by all means go make one! Meet you back here in five.

Can't Tell You Much About Porsche

I was just duct taping a few holes in the trunk of my newly purchased 1988 Mazda 626. Seems like the rain was kicking up and getting into the side well and the passenger side carpet was pooling water. Might have to go get some Scotch Auto Body Repair tape at Schucks later.

Anyway, I was looking at mileage on my 626 and it's quite amazing. 24 average is listed and that's what I get exactly but I do all stop and go driving. I haven't road tripped it on the highway yet.

Still, it's quite amazing as a 20 year old car is still competitive (and it's a big small car...almost luxury in its day).

What was that about Porsches?

by jabailo at 10:37 AM on 03 Apr 2008

Not all about Mileage

I think it has more to do with the efficiency of the thing, not just the mileage. A lot has been achieved since your car was put together in 1988. I followed the link to find out how much you would be paying, they didn't have an exact match as you might imagine, I suppose they don't have a big vintage asian car market. Anyhoo, by using a combination of the model and your stated mileage of about 24 they say your co2 number is 284 and according to the chart you would be paying.

Pre-2001 with engine over 3,000cc £25 per day
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/roadsa ...

Now imagine it's tripled. Pretty effective, but only as long as the proceeds go towards pulic transport right away, otherwise most of them won't be able to afford to drive into town and the existing public transit will be smashed full!

But that's short term, long term is high demand for low c02 cars. Manufacturers don't even have to look outside the box for this one... Get On It!

by morganmghee at 12:51 PM on 03 Apr 2008

Bye bye

Maybe it is time for Porche to go bye bye if it can't get it's act together and work for a safer environment.Maybe alot of other autos should smell the pollution and go bye bye.
I am so ready for mass transit to emerge as a(pun intended)moving force of people and goods.I like the idea of pedestrian city centers and even neighborhoods,when possible.My country's use of mass transit(U.S.)is incredibly sloppy,excepting the cities.The cities could use some major upgrades and that is happening,slowly.Our railroad system is a bloody mess.When a railroad company acquires another line.The first thing that they do is tear out one of the two tracks,if that is the case,so that they can charge higher rates to other railroads who want to use their lines.Wasteful!!It's all about the benjamins!

Why not ask why!?

by usandthem at 10:34 AM on 05 Apr 2008

The comments of Grist users reflect the opinions of those individuals only, and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of Grist, its staff, its board members, their psychotherapists, or their aestheticians. Got it?