Currently, any motorist who drives a car with emissions below 100g/km CO2 is exempt from the London Congestion Charge. However, light commercial vehicles under 3.5 tonnes with sub-100g/km CO2 emissions are not exempt and have to pay the £10 fee.

Plantire, based near Heathrow, bought low emission vans with the belief that the rules for vans and cars would gain parity, but despite London Mayor Boris Johnson’s assertion that ‘Vans are the lifeblood of this city’, it has not happened.

John Tocher, Plantire’s general manager said: ‘Although we knew when we ordered the Corsavans that they were not exempt, we felt sure that Transport for London would change the exemption. It makes sense that if cars with emissions under 100g/km CO2 are exempt, vans emitting less than 100g/km CO2 shouldn’t have to pay the Congestion Charge either.’

‘Having to pay the Congestion Charge is almost negating these savings and seems grossly unfair.’

Despite the exclusion of vans from Transport for London’s green transport initiative, the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, stated previously: ‘This noble bunch is mostly small business owners and independent traders who are focused on grafting hard to support their families and build a better future,’ he said.

Vauxhall is supporting Planthire’s claim. The Corsavan 1.3 CDTi ecoFLEX with Start/Stop is Vauxhall’s most efficient commercial vehicle ever, achieving 83.1mpg on the combined cycle.

Richard Collier, Vauxhall’s national commercial vehicle sales manager, commented: ‘Ultimately we would love all our Corsavan ecoFLEX customers to get the same Congestion Charge exemption enjoyed by our Corsa ecoFLEX customers, both of which boast sub-100g/km CO2 emissions.’