How electric cars became a battleground in the culture wars (a not so great piece by the guardian)

[Stig]

Out of curiosity* I checked and my 15 year old Nissan Micra is ULEZ compliant, that's not exactly an expensive modern car. I'm guessing it's mostly oldish diesels that are affected.


*I don't intend ever driving in London

[Mr Gus]

Like what exactly?

(Scotland.has / had a loan systemto get folk including the ypung into / onto EV be it mopeds, motorbikes or car varia ts, doesnt seem so daft does it)?

No idea about any loan system Mr Gus.
Mopeds- sorry not a form of transport I consider safe along with motorbikes so son won’t be getting one of them, need a all year solution
Not sure what a car varia ts is?

So effectively a small car, and diesels of certain ages and petrol of certain ages aren’t allowed in the city centre…

"VARIANT" ..my kindle keyboard is screwed (smashed screen & is on borrowed time)

I tried to find the scheme on here as it was discussed at the time, you may have better luck.

I'd prefer a moped to nothing, & half the reason they are perceived as dangerous is the attitude of drivers around them (sad but true) but there's risks on every road, thank god for LED lights versus crap old filaments. (cheap n' wearable as extra attention raising)

[Mr Gus]

Out of curiosity* I checked and my 15 year old Nissan Micra is ULEZ compliant, that's not exactly an expensive modern car. I'm guessing it's mostly oldish diesels that are affected.


*I don't intend ever driving in London

Sadly my 450 smart is likely liable, 3 cylinder 96g of pollution smog on the scale as I recall.

[Mr Gus]

@AGT

here we go...

The amount is per household!? (don't quote me it was last year when I read it)
https://www.drivingelectric.com/your-qu ... lete-guide

[AGT]

Thanks for the link to the loan site!

[Mart]

Out of curiosity* I checked and my 15 year old Nissan Micra is ULEZ compliant, that's not exactly an expensive modern car. I'm guessing it's mostly oldish diesels that are affected.


*I don't intend ever driving in London

Yes, the restrictions only apply to some of the oldest and worst cars.* I'm sure the rules will get stepped up in time, but the press claims that it's anti-poor people seems to just be the usual Daily Mail spin. I think the trade-in scheme is £2k.

[*Been checking and it seems petrol Euro 4, which is roughly post 2006 should be good, but diesel is tougher at Euro 6, which is about 2015. M.]

The poorest tend to be those that suffer the most from the air pollution issues, due to where they often live.

The medical profession is trying hard to protect these measures:

Doctors urge politicians to stand firm on schemes to tackle air pollution

I remember George Monbiot, back in 2010, claiming that the FiT subsidy for PV would be paid by poor domestic customers (rather than by all customers, in all sectors), yet council and social housing installed huge amounts, massively benefiting residents.

I remember my father complaining about seat belt laws, and looking back, it was many more years later, before my sister and I had to be 'belted up' in the back of the Cortina, being driven fast and aggressively.

[Mr Gus]

We grew up knowing how bad our landy's fared in smashes on Newmarket area roads, so as little kids used seatbelts as a rule (though I don't remember early 80's datsun cherry's having rear seat belts (an add on presumably)

But by the time my mates were driving I don't remember even one person refusing to wear one, ..naturalised I guess, despite being teens & imaginary "cool"

I'm wondering what the scenario for low mileage classics will be, will there be a reduced rate / exemption if you can prove it is garaged most of the time? (doubtful, but came to mind)

[Stig]

I'm wondering what the scenario for low mileage classics will be, will there be a reduced rate / exemption if you can prove it is garaged most of the time? (doubtful, but came to mind)

Yep, just checked my Sprite and it's also exempt.

[Mr Gus]

Under what exemption Stig? ..age, engine size, miles per year as an old timer? cheers!

Actually, doing some skim work, I the healey is 1960's so ...over 40.

https://www.classicandsportscar.com/fea ... -need-know

"if your classic is more than 40 years old and is registered for the historic vehicle tax class, you will not need to pay the ULEZ charge.

It’ll work the same way as the MoT rules introduced in 2018, which takes the cut-off date as exactly 40 years on a rolling basis.

Given that otherwise only relatively modern cars built after 2006 (petrol) or 2015 (diesel) are likely to be exempt, huge numbers of classics will fall foul of the new regulations"

[Mart]

40yrs, so my beloved 1981 Trans-Am (if I still had it) would be eligible. Though at 16mpg (up from the 7 or 8 when I got it), I'm not sure my morals would allow me to drive it.

Of course a BEV conversion would be fun, and some batt weight in the trunk would help, as it was lethal in damp/wet weather, without 2 bags of sand in the trunk.

How confusing would a green stripe numberplate on a yanktank be!

I seem to recall a Ferrari conversion, that as well as making it faster, was also a tad lighter, and greater range, as the fuel tank(s) were so small.