London’s congestion charge is going through changes, with the scrapping of a proposed new charge and the consideration of changes to the existing scheme in the pipeline.

The city’s mayor, Boris Johnson, has abandoned plans for charging gas-guzzling 4X4 vehicles £25 to come into the city centre, following a legal challenge by the German carmaker Porsche. The proposal, which would have applied to vehicles emitting more than 225 grams of carbon dioxide per one kilometre, as well as cars registered before March 2001 with engines larger than 3,000 cc, was put forward by Ken Livingstone, Johnson’s predecessor, and would have taken effect in October. It would have affected some 17% of cars currently being driven in the congestion charging zone, a figure that reflects the popularity of large SUV-type vehicles.

In its legal challenge to the proposed charge, Porsche presented research that showed that the charge would have actually increased CO2 emissions because people would have to drive further to avoid the congestion zone.

Also, say those in favour of scrapping the proposed charge, congestion would have been increased by allowing thousands of small cars in for free, as Livingstone had planned to do for cars with the lowest emissions. But opponents call it a blow to London’s attempts to help tackle climate change, and that the needs of a few had been put above pressing environmental concerns.

In a separate move that would also work in favour of motorists, Mr Johnson is considering changes to make London’s £8 congestion charge more flexible, such as applying the charge only during the busiest periods of the day, scrapping an extension of the charge to West London, and offering discounts during quieter periods. Also to be reconsidered are the amount of time motorists are allowed to pay the charge, as well as the methods for paying it.

Under the current scheme, the charge applies to any vehicle that moves inside the zone between 7 am and 6 pm. By contrast, the proposed review would aim for greater flexibility, similar to the scheme planned for Manchester, which applies charges for only a few hours a day during the busiest times.

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