London's T-Charge & LPG

[yosini]

Heard about this on the radio this morning as we commuted into central London in an Interceptor. Not that it's a daily commute, and we were travelling in as a family but it did make me wonder, as I have done over the years, about converting to LPG. Our T25 is LPG only and is wonderful - filling up for 25 quid and the look on the MOT testers face each year when the exhaust probe reads zero and they wonder if their machine is broken. When the congestion zone charge was first introduced LPG vehicles were exempt, rightfully so as it was meant to reduce pollution among other things, but that was soon dropped. I wonder if these new pollution-centric initiatives will re-look at exempting LPG vehicles?

Luckily I don't drive into the congestion zone very often, so infrequently that when I do I generally forget to pay until a few days later when it is too late to back date it and all you can do is wait for the £65 fine. A quick check online exempts the Interceptor from the T-Charge anyway, still fancy converting it though - anyone done a big V8 LPG conversion on here? apparently 10% reduction in power (not a problem), increase in running temp (not a problem at the mo), need to find space (the spare wheel is suitably positioned to replace and then just carry some tyre-weld), good for the environment - all sounds wise to me.

Cheers

Joe

[Wuzzle]

Well, it is a congestion charge. Exempting certain vehicles just encourages driving in Central London.

[Johnnytheboy]

Wuzzle said:

Well, it is a congestion charge. Exempting certain vehicles just encourages driving in Central London.

I think you may have missed the point somewhat.

The idea is to discourage polluting vehicles...

[Wuzzle]

And Congestion. We also have one at the Dartford Crossing, pretty sure that isn't pollution related.

The clue is in the name...

[Blaster72]

Wuzzle said:

And Congestion. We also have one at the Dartford Crossing, pretty sure that isn't pollution related.

The clue is in the name...

T-Charge is formally known as Emissions surcharge, it's additional to the Congestion Charge and is aimed solely at reducing pollution not congestion.

[Johnnytheboy]

Yeeeeessss.... but the new charge being brought in today is being targeted at older, more polluting vehicles.

So it's not aimed at reducing the numbers of all vehicles, but at certain vehicles... the polluting ones.

[Wuzzle]

Johnnytheboy said:

Yeeeeessss.... but the new charge being brought in today is being targeted at older, more polluting vehicles.

So it's not aimed at reducing the numbers of all vehicles, but at certain vehicles... the polluting ones.

But the Congestion Charge was bought in long before everyone knew how deadly diesels were. The LEZ Zone was pollution related.

[Wuzzle]

I could post numerous links saying the C Charge was bought in to reduce traffic levels but can't be bothered...

[Johnnytheboy]

Yes, but the OP is talking about the new T-Charge.

Oh I give up...

[Blaster72]

I know it’s painful isn’t it

[pspikings]

^^ Hard work

Definitely need an LPG exception, there is something about allowing retrofitted improvements which make cars meet the standards being exempted but that's in the future so I have to pay the T-charge for my zero emission (except CO2 obviously) LPG ST220 until that's sorted, sigh. Not that I drive into London anyway.

[CAPP0]

Ha ha ha, my 5-car fleet comprises 3 SUVs and 2 2.0 turbo Coupes, and it transpires that the two vehicles which are exempt from the T-Charge are my 4.4 AJ-V8 FFRR and, most hilariously, my ancient smelly noisy old 3.9 RV8 RRC, persumably because it has LPG fitted and recorded.

I'll probably sell the RRC soon (to make room for a Mustang) so that must have just put the price up a little more!

[Wuzzle]

Johnnytheboy said:

Yes, but the OP is talking about the new T-Charge.

Oh I give up...

But the OP mentions LPG cars formerly being exempt from the Congestion Charge, which is why I have posted what I have.

I think you probably should give up.

[300bhp/ton]

Wuzzle said:

Johnnytheboy said:

Yeeeeessss.... but the new charge being brought in today is being targeted at older, more polluting vehicles.

So it's not aimed at reducing the numbers of all vehicles, but at certain vehicles... the polluting ones.

But the Congestion Charge was bought in long before everyone knew how deadly diesels were. The LEZ Zone was pollution related.

Knowledge of diesels has been known for a long long time. Way before any congestion charge.

Today’s hysteria and perversion of the facts doesn’t alter this ether.

As for the congestion charge. It doesn’t and never has had anything to do with traffic flow or emissions. It’s just a clever form of taxation.

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Monday 23 October 13:45

[Wuzzle]

300bhp/ton said:

Wuzzle said:

Johnnytheboy said:

Yeeeeessss.... but the new charge being brought in today is being targeted at older, more polluting vehicles.

So it's not aimed at reducing the numbers of all vehicles, but at certain vehicles... the polluting ones.

But the Congestion Charge was bought in long before everyone knew how deadly diesels were. The LEZ Zone was pollution related.

Don’t be dim. Knowledge of diesels has been known for a long long time. Way before any congestion charge.

Today’s hysteria and perversion of the facts doesn’t alter this ether.

As for the congestion charge. It doesn’t and never has had anything to do with traffic flow or emissions. It’s just a clever form of taxation.

I'm clearly dealing with a bunch of idiots. I shall leave you all to it.

[LordBretSinclair]

[anonymous-user]

I drove an Interceptor into and out of the C Zone almost daily for a couple of years. It was, rather shamefully, exempt from paying the charge.

[Mercky]

I run my old Merc on vegetable oil. Its not a fossil fuel, and it doesnt chuck much smoke out. I consider it to be far less polluting than an all electric car powered by coal fired power stations, and if I ever have to visit the smoke in it I aint paying no pollution charge.

[NDA]

Are London's filthy black cabs included in the T Charge - or has Mr Khan exempted them?

Uber's hybrid cars should be fairly clean by comparison I would have thought. Or is that not the point?

[Pica-Pica]

Wuzzle said:

And Congestion. We also have one at the Dartford Crossing, pretty sure that isn't pollution related.

The clue is in the name...

That big C at the Dartford Crossing, is the Dart Charge a toll for road use to fund the crossing.