Mayor scraps plans for central London zero-emission zone from 2025

[Rockets]

Did anyone know this was even on the table?

Now the Mayor has passed the baton to councils over this it will be interesting to hear what Southwark says - they did not respond to the BBC when approached but other councils have said they have no plans to implement it - I suspect the Mayor's office is doing a cleanse of anything buried in their plans they think might become a political hot potato ahead of the mayoral election and ahead of the general election.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-66647266

[malumbu]

When I went to the 2015 Mansion House event when Mayor Johnson announced his plans for the ULEZ he spoke about his ambitions for a zero emission zone for the Congestion Charging Zone.  Not heard the current Mayor supporting this.  Would you support this Rocks?

And you've not answered my question on another thread about Mayor Khan's excellent record on electric buses.  Surely you must welcome this.  

Edited August 31, 2023 by malumbu

[Rockets]

Malumbu - doing my best not to feed the trolls! 😉

 

But yes, I have been very supportive of electrification of any road vehicle as it seems to me to be the quickest fix to a problem - but I was shocked to hear how few miles the "electric" black cabs do as pure electric they are hybrid rather than full electric but any reduction has to be considered a step in the right direction.

 

I just wish others felt the same way about helping encourage the transition to electric cars as that does seem like the most sensible near-term solution to transition away from combustion engines.

Edited August 31, 2023 by Rockets

[CPR Dave]

Interesting though that he hasn't abandoned his plans to use the ULEZ (and all other traffic enforcement and CCTV cameras) to implement Pay per Mile driving charges.

Given the appallingly duplicitous nature of most announcements by Labour on anything to do with privately owned cars I expect he will actually try to implement a zero ICE car policy inside the North / South circular by permitting them but charging people hugely exploitative amounts of money for driving in  that zone.

See Southwark Labour's charging policy for CPZ permits as an example of this sort of snakey behaviour. 

Edited August 31, 2023 by CPR Dave

[malumbu]

Pay per mile is the fairest way of collecting revenue from motorists but HAS to be a national scheme. 

Rocks can you just say "yes Mayor Khan has a great record on reducing emissions from buses including roll out of electric buses.". Much appreciated.

Electric taxis were a nationally supported scheme by the now Office of Zero Emission Vehicles". The high cost and low range  were  issues for full EV at the time of launch.  it was therefore mandated that these had to be zero emission capable (can't remember if there was a minimum range) and government supported the London Black Cab company (can't remember the name) with the hope that this would be rolled out nationally and internationally.

So any complaint should be aimed at government although black cabbies have too much influence in London, are self and over regulated including blanket requirements for turning circles and accessibility - latter should be a certain percentage.  This makes black cabs expensive to buy, with a high cost of the 'plate' and therefore at a disadvantage Vs minicabs and Uber leading to regular taxi wars.

The queues at major ranks and Heathrow often with engines idling (not a problem with EVs) shows that this is not a market working well for consumers but the industry and TfL are not receptive to any liberalisation of the market.

Yes I do know lots about this subject and this post is off the top of my head not from Wiki.

Dunno why I have red text above

[Earl Aelfheah]

Dynamic road pricing definitely the fairest and most efficient way of covering some of the externalised costs of motor vehicle use. Needs to be a national scheme however.