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Business & Money

Eco-car drivers set to pay Stockholm road tolls

Published: 31 Jul 12 15:19 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/42344/20120731/

From August 1st eco-cars will no longer enjoy a tax exemption from road tolls in Stockholm and drivers will have to begin paying the fee just like other road users.

The previous rules stipulated that all eco-cars registered before January 1st 2009 were exempt from paying the Stockholm congestion tax.

When the road toll system was introduced in Stockholm on a permanent basis after the 2006 general election, all eco-cars were exempt in a bid to stimulate sales.

The exemption was phased out beginning of 2009 and all new vehicles began paying the tax immediately.

From Wednesday all private vehicles entering Stockholm's inner-city areas will have to pay the fee.

According to the Swedish Transport Agency (Transportstyrelsen) the change affects some 44,000 vehicles.

Following a decision by the Swedish parliament in November 2011, the main government initiative to stimulate more eco-friendly vehicles has shifted to a new system of subsidies for electric cars.

The Local reported last week however that the subsidies have not been particular popular with Swedish consumers with only 96 premiums claimed since the system was introduced on January 1st.

Some 200 million kronor ($29.4 million) was earmarked by the government for project and it was hoped that 5,000 cars fitting the strict low-emission car definition would be paid out by 2014.

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18:30 July 31, 2012 by Reason abd Realism
So after only 44,000 eco passenger vehicles were purchased or registered (out of maybe 1 million passenger vehicles in Sweden), the government will quickly destroy the eco vehicle incentive, for what? In the hopes that everyone will abondon their regular cars and eco cars in the fields, and line up to buy completely electric cars?

There are many good things about Sweden, but the Swedish government, like many in Europe, is intensely 'anti car', and/or hell bent on maximizing taxes, in a way that is truly annoying at times.
09:43 August 3, 2012 by Mpf
It is a congestion charge so why were Eco cars exempt anyway. Eco or not they still cause congestion which is what the charge aimed to reduce. No matter what you drive you should pay or they should call it something else.
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