Some electric vehicles and Land Rovers are among the cars that will be affected by a new parking premium on large vehicles being introduced in a UK city. The plan, approved by Cardiff Council this week, is aimed at reducing commuter parking and encouraging the use of sustainable transport.
A key element of the plan will see the city split into different parking zones with their own parking rules. However it will also see city-wide restrictions brought in like a surcharge on larger and more polluting vehicles.
A council report on the city parking plan states that “large heavy vehicles take up more parking space and are a danger to other road users”, WalesOnline reports.
It is hoped that the surcharge, which will affect vehicles over 2,400kg in revenue weight, will encourage drivers to switch to smaller modes of transport.
‘Revenue weight’ essentially refers to the gross weight of a vehicle. That is the weight of a vehicle when it is loaded to its maximum capacity with passengers, luggage, fuel, and other fluids. You can find the revenue weight of your car on the DVLA website.
In time the council said the surcharge will be reduced 2,000kg for non-electric cars vehicles. Very large vehicles that are over 3,500kg in revenue weight will not be entitled to parking permits. Here are some of the cars that will be affected by the council’s surcharges:
⦁ 2025 Skoda Enyaq (electric) – revenue weight of 2,650kg
⦁ 2025 BMW iX (electric) – revenue weight of 2,703kg
⦁ 2024 Audi Q4 e-tron (electric) – revenue weight of 2,660kg
⦁ 2022 Range Rover D350 – revenue weight of 2,504kg
⦁ 2022 Range Rover Sport – revenue weight of 2,810kg
⦁ 2018 Jeep Wrangler – revenue weight of 2,585kg
⦁ 2025 Skoda Kodiaq – revenue weight of 2,500kg
⦁ 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLS – revenue weight of 3,420kg
⦁ 2024 Land Rover Discovery – revenue weight of 2,529kg
As well as these cars, many common people carriers used by larger families are heavier than 2.4 tonnes. Any Volkwagen Sharan model since 2010 weighs 2,510kg revenue weight. Ford Galaxy vehicles also have a gross vehicle weight of between 2,415kg and 2,585kg depending on the age of the car.
Cardiff Council’s cabinet member for climate change, strategic planning and transport, Cllr Dan De’Ath, said the local authority’s surcharge is aimed at big “American-style” SUVs that are “much larger than your average car”.
The council’s targeting of larger cars is also linked to road safety. Cllr De’Ath said at Thursday’s cabinet meeting the chance of a child dying is “grossly inflated” if they are hit by a large SUV.
He added: “We don’t think it is unreasonable for drivers of those vehicles to have to pay a little more.”
Diesel vehicles will also be affected by a surcharge with Cardiff Council saying these release more health-damaging nitrogen oxides and particulate matter than petrol vehicles.
Vehicles which are Real Driving Emissions 2 (RDE2) compliant will be exempt from this surcharge as they are seen to produce significantly fewer harmful pollutants.
Cardiff Council hasn’t said exactly how much the surcharge will be but a report published recently by the local authority states that costs associated with parking permits and other tariffs will be consulted on as part of a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process.
Another council report on the city parking plan stated that fees and charges will be reviewed every two financial years.