London's new congestion charge plans - The proposals

Transport for London has officially opened the consultation process for its plans to base the congestion charge on carbon dioxide emissions.

Under the proposals, vehicles which emit more than 225g/km of carbon dioxide or were registered before March 2001 and have engines larger than 3.0 litres will have to pay £25 a day to enter the congestion charge zone.

In addition, owners of these vehicles who live within the zone will no longer be eligible for the 90% residents' discount.

Drivers of vehicles that emit less than 120g/km of carbon dioxide will have the congestion charge waived, while all other drivers will continue to pay the current rate of £8 a day.

Drivers registered with Transport for London for the Alternative Fuel Discount would continue to receive the benefit until July 2009, when the congestion charge scheme would become purely based on carbon dioxide emissions.