London Motor Show

We went on a family trip to the London Motor Show, at Excel. The Docklands Light Railway was even hotter than the tube, if possible, but as none of the windows open, it is very airless.

We went to see which cars will be lowest rated under the “Ken Tax” – now that the Congestion Charge is going to vary according to the emission levels. If you are charging on emission then this is a pollution tax, rather than a congestion charge. However from the Transport for London survey we know that traffic speeds have not increased. Slower idling traffic pumps out more fumes, and the congestion charge has not increased the free flow of traffic.

All the cars at the show were clearly labelled into bands A – G, sometimes cars you expected to be a C were in higher bands, so beware!

If you want no congestion charge and no road tax; there was a choice of electric cars at the show, the Mercedes Benz Smart which I have driven and is excellent, very handy town driving, silent and smart! I know others have been tempted by the G-Whizz, however there was no-one on their stand when we visited. G-Whizz’s show model was decorated to look like a wild animal, so not everyone’s taste! There was a company I had not seen before, The Nice Car company who are selling electric cars to the London market.

London could soon be more silent and fume free if we cut out the noise of the internal combustion engine, However until then families need to travel around, so I am not in favour of penalising family vehicles.
What’s your view