The city of London's efforts to control its infamous traffic jams and related air quality issues have focused on discouraging drivers from even considering entering the city with their gas-burners by levying a daily "congestion charge" (a form of usage tax, running about $15 a day) and a stiff annual road tax. Throw in sky high curbside parking fees of up to $70 a day, and drivers are looking for alternatives that provide the freedom of a personal vehicle without the high cost - like GoinGreen's "G-Wiz" electric cars (right).Electric vehicles are exempt from the congestion charge, the annual road tax, and on-street parking fees, so a regular visitor to central London can recover the $13,000 purchase price of a G-Wiz in just 12 months, according to GoinGreen's managing director Keith Johnston.
The 500 or so G-Wiz electric cars humming through London streets are not only attracting more G-Wiz buyers, but also drawing the interest of competitors, with the electric Maranello 4 and NICE (No Internal Combustion Engine) brands soon to be introduced to Londoners.
Electric city car manufacturers are looking to other European urban markets, and, inevitably, to China to fuel future growth.
[Source: Automotive News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Joel A. @ Jun 26th 2006 3:49PM
More details can also be found here:
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2006/05/25/g-wiz-ev-makes-driving-gas-free/
PJ @ Jun 26th 2006 4:13PM
Out of curiosity, are there any current or former Londoners here that can explain why, exactly, people bother trying to drive in London at all? As a tourist, I've found it so easy to get around via underground, bus, or taxi that I couldn't imagine why anyone would try to own a car there... but then, as a tourist, you miss a lot.
dave @ Jun 26th 2006 4:23PM
#2: Same goes for NYC ... I can't understand why anyone would want a car there ..
Steve @ Jun 26th 2006 4:55PM
Well, as a current londoner I'll give it a go:
1) People with a LOT of money, usually working in the city, don't really want to be squashed together with the rest of the great unwashed on public transport.
2) For some, especially those with young kids, public transport isn't a particularly attractive option.
3) Some people just like to pose, hence driving around the heart of London in something suitably flash.
4) While the London transport system is pretty extensive it isn't very reliable and there are some journeys, often quite close together, that can be a real pig to complete. Off the top of my head, getting from Finchley to Wembley is a decent example.
5) A LOT of car trips in London are commerical. You've got the obvious stuff like deliverys and transport (buses and taxis) but there's also service jobs (electricians, plumbers, pc repair technicians etc), couriers and all the other jobs needed for a major city.
I'm sure there's plenty of other reasons but that's enough to be going on with. One other question, I keep seeing stuff about "air quality issues" but have never experienced anything I'd consider really bad in six years of living here. All the stuff about London smog and the like seems to come from heavy coal burning before about 1960 and in the last 20 years air quality is vastly improved. Don't get me wrong, the air quality isn't exactly perfect (I come from Wales originaly so have a point for comparison) but considering it IS a capital city (in a very small area) I'd say London was doing pretty well.
JB @ Jun 26th 2006 6:29PM
As a car owning Londoner, I'm at a loss why people bother to drive. I use my car for leaving London on weekends, I frankly don't see the point of sitting in very expensive traffic during the week.
Incidently the congestion charge is a road toll, not a tax, and it has actually improved life for residents and pedestrians, slightly. If it can encourage more electric cars, then great, I can look forward to a day I can walk to work without suffocating in the traffic fume smog.
Yoda @ Jun 26th 2006 6:35PM
This is a Reva. This is an Indian company, and they designed and built these cars. They have been selling these cars in India for more than 5 years.
Jeff Banks @ Jun 27th 2006 1:21AM
From their website:
"The new 'No Frills' model is just £6,999 (contact us for details). The standard model is £8,299, on offer for just £7,799, plus for orders placed by 30th June 2006* free leather seats worth an additional £499. Exempt from Road Tax, exempt from the Congestion Charge (worth over £2,000 p.a.), free** parking in central London (Westminster, City) on meters and in pay & display bays, 96% discounts on annual season tickets in 19 Westminster MasterParks (worth over £6,000 p.a.), free parking in 7 City car parks, 22 (soon to be 60) free charging points in Westminster and up to 100% discounts on residential and business parking permits in London boroughs (Islington 100% resident's discount). Around £1.64 per day to run (that's cheaper than the bus or tube), an amazing 1p per mile electricity (equivalent to around 600 miles per gallon, just £40 to £50 in fuel per year) and the lowest insurance group. Businesses receive a 100% year 1 tax allowance and G-Wiz company car drivers pay the lowest rate of company at only 9%. "
"equivalent to around 600 miles per gallon"
Boy i'd love to have that here. Unfortunately I live in California suburbia where you have to take a highway to get somewhere. How do you brits deal with $70 parking fees?! I would just use public transportation for sure.
Glifford Menezes @ Jun 27th 2006 2:16AM
Ohh wow! That is the Maini Reva! A car made right here in Bangalore India. Pretty common here!
Nice personal transportation that is cheaper to run than a Motorcycle!
Glifford Menezes @ Jun 27th 2006 2:18AM
oops. forgot the link..
checkout http://www.revaindia.com