Government orders congestion charge on Coventry roads (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter hill83
- Start date
Nick
Administrator
I think times are changing though.
We drive to the school mainly because it's not that close, if it was round the corner we would probably still have to drive to then go to work straight from there (unless we had a day off and could work).
I do hate that there's chaos but there's not much choice for some
Covstu
Well-Known Member
The city doesn’t have the infrastructure to cope with the demands that this type of shift would bring, if you had trams or underground like the big cities then it makes perfect sense. The city is reliant on the ring road, it nearly impossible to get from one side of the city to another without going near the ring road.
From a personal perspective, my wife drops the kids to school which is 5 mins away and her work is about 5 from there so she is fine. I can do generally about 700 to 1000 miles per week and not in Coventry so it wouldn’t affect me day to day but it certainly would make us think twice about going into town etc
From a personal perspective, my wife drops the kids to school which is 5 mins away and her work is about 5 from there so she is fine. I can do generally about 700 to 1000 miles per week and not in Coventry so it wouldn’t affect me day to day but it certainly would make us think twice about going into town etc
hill83
Well-Known Member
Heard they are being handed out for free.
Sub
Well-Known Member
Electric vehicles take a bigger carbon footprint to make the batteries than fossil fuel vehicles. There is no infrastructure for electric vehicles and the battery technology is not there or ready yet. I look forward to seeing all the extension leads hanging out of windows from blocks of flats trying to charge cars parked in the street for the next morning.
As usual government has tried to make everyone go electric before actually looking at the real cost to the environment. Hydrogen is a better way forward but that wont happen as they wont make as much money from it!
As usual government has tried to make everyone go electric before actually looking at the real cost to the environment. Hydrogen is a better way forward but that wont happen as they wont make as much money from it!
D
Deleted member 5849
Guest
The electricity has to be generated somewhere too. Not convinced 'renewables' are the answer once scaled up either, as it's taking energy from somewhere.
skybluegod
Well-Known Member
Isn't this the problem, that everyone is pointing out the flaws in ideas/technologies, and burying their head in the sand rather than actually trying to contribute or help save not just Coventry but the future of our species? Elon Musks 'Gigafactories' are self sustaining, and produce the car batteries, much cheaper and faster than ever before.
People are expecting vast improvements, but improvements don't happen either: 1) a huge financial backer 2) supply &Demand. The technology is getting better, but until there is a demand, there is not going to be any real push to see the improvements that everyone wants.
Too easy to say 'I won't get one until they are cheaper and better', i don't know anything in the world, that gets cheaper and better unless there is demand. Even then it takes years. Everyone has to meet half way, rather than relying on businesses/Government to do everything.
People are expecting vast improvements, but improvements don't happen either: 1) a huge financial backer 2) supply &Demand. The technology is getting better, but until there is a demand, there is not going to be any real push to see the improvements that everyone wants.
Too easy to say 'I won't get one until they are cheaper and better', i don't know anything in the world, that gets cheaper and better unless there is demand. Even then it takes years. Everyone has to meet half way, rather than relying on businesses/Government to do everything.
chiefdave
Well-Known Member
You're in a dreamland if you think you're going to get people to move to something which is basically a more expensive but shitter version of what they already have.
Give people a viable alternative, be it vehicles or public transport, that they can afford and you stand a chance.
We've had Tesla in this week, pushing their electric cars.. And there may be a push for us to become an ambassador type company for them, having charging points etc....
No doubt the high-spec cars are impressive (and even fast) and the benefits to company car drivers are decent.... But the actual price of these cars are utterly ridiculous... Way beyond the vast majority of people.... The only option then for the rest is the Zoe.... Which I've just looked up, and as mentioned in a post above, looks shit and is more expensive than an actual decent second hand car. Not to mention the range and need for charging.
No doubt the high-spec cars are impressive (and even fast) and the benefits to company car drivers are decent.... But the actual price of these cars are utterly ridiculous... Way beyond the vast majority of people.... The only option then for the rest is the Zoe.... Which I've just looked up, and as mentioned in a post above, looks shit and is more expensive than an actual decent second hand car. Not to mention the range and need for charging.
hill83
Well-Known Member
If we had a decent tram/underground system I’d opt for that over driving every time. I can’t stand driving. The time I start work there isn’t physically a bus for me to get. I’d love an electric car. Can’t afford one. (Edit: Actually I can afford one but I choose not to spend lots of money on cars) Luckily I can just use the A45/A46 to get to work if I need to.
I’m all for green policies and saving the earth etc but this in its current expected form (we don’t know exactly what it will entail yet) reeks of a money making scheme to me. If the money goes towards a public transport infrastructure then great, but it’s a chicken and egg scenario. I’d want the public transport in place before. But obviously there wouldn’t be funding for it until the congestion charges hit.
And am I bollocks driving a Zoe. I’d rather stick to my Focus and pay the charges. I could afford the charges quite easily but many wouldn’t be able to. I’m basing the charges on the details about the Birmingham congestion charges not the London ones.
I’m all for green policies and saving the earth etc but this in its current expected form (we don’t know exactly what it will entail yet) reeks of a money making scheme to me. If the money goes towards a public transport infrastructure then great, but it’s a chicken and egg scenario. I’d want the public transport in place before. But obviously there wouldn’t be funding for it until the congestion charges hit.
And am I bollocks driving a Zoe. I’d rather stick to my Focus and pay the charges. I could afford the charges quite easily but many wouldn’t be able to. I’m basing the charges on the details about the Birmingham congestion charges not the London ones.
richnrg
Well-Known Member
you're not meant to (unless you have little legs)
D
Deleted member 5849
Guest
When I lived in London I sold my car, used the tube everywhere. You'd have been crazy to do otherwise, tbh.
Absolutely, give a decent public transport system and it's entirely sensible to encourge people onto that rather than cars.
CJ_covblaze
Well-Known Member
I’d be all for it if this happens. If not the charge won’t stop people driving in the city centre. All it will do is piss them off and lessen the money in their pockets.
covcity4life
Well-Known Member
he said he already has a wife
ccfc92
Well-Known Member
I need to look into it more, but I believe the Carbon Footprint to produce a Battery for an Electric car, plus charging said car for it's lifetime, is more than the emissions produced by a Petrol engine in the same lifetime.
Hydrogen is the way to go, but it's just storing it and everyone would be driving around in a bomb.
Hydrogen is the way to go, but it's just storing it and everyone would be driving around in a bomb.
Nick
Administrator
Obviously never saw my overfueling rs turbo back in the day bruv.
(not my actual one)
Tell that to congestion charges!
Si80
Well-Known Member
Fully expecting the congestion zone to be on all major routes into the city as just covering the city centre inner ring road won't generate enough cash...
I work bang in the city centre. So does the missus. Bus passes for us both would be £1200 a year. Car parking (annual card subsidised through work at Belgrade CP) = £396.
Yes theirs an arguement for insurance, car payment etc against the cost, but I'd always chose to drive rather than switch to public transport.
Very tempted by a Honda e though as my next car. Love the look of those!
I work bang in the city centre. So does the missus. Bus passes for us both would be £1200 a year. Car parking (annual card subsidised through work at Belgrade CP) = £396.
Yes theirs an arguement for insurance, car payment etc against the cost, but I'd always chose to drive rather than switch to public transport.
Very tempted by a Honda e though as my next car. Love the look of those!
hill83
Well-Known Member
Expected to be 35k for a dodgy looking mini. I wish they would make standard looking electric cars. Only one I’ve seen so far is the Golf.
Sub
Well-Known Member
They go on about the vehicles killing the planet but there is no mention of chopping down rain forests, the wars in Iraq burning the oil fields which polluted the atmosphere. It's all the people who drive to work that cause the issue!! Is it bollocks it's just easier to blame them and get them to pay for it while the fat cats drive round in their limos and v8\v10 powered cars. If every person said ok I'm not using my car I'm going by public transport or walking the country would lose billions in tax. We would then gat a walking tax and blamed for wearing the pavements out!
Nick
Administrator
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I prefer the merc:
ccfc92
Well-Known Member
Toyota Yaris and Auris are standard looking. Boring but reliable.
Si80
Well-Known Member
No chance that'll come in at £35k... Really? I've not seen a price guide for it anywhere? A Tesla3 is gonna be circa £38k so Honda may as well shoot themselves in both feet right now if they put it in anything about £25k for what's really going to be a supermini.
EDIT - Just googled.... £35k is mental. Aligning it to Apple and claiming premium product bullshit.
rondog1973
Well-Known Member
Would happily have an electric car, but have yet to find an extension lead long enough for me to complete the commute to work.
vow
Well-Known Member
Fugly as fuck.
35K? It looks like something from a Disney Pixar film.
Liquid Gold
Well-Known Member
Why are the wing mirrors pointing upwards?
35K? It looks like something from a Disney Pixar film.
Si80
Well-Known Member
I believe they are rear facing cameras and the wing mirror is shown on a screen inside the car.
SBAndy
Well-Known Member
Technology for technology’s sake. Why.
Nick
Administrator
If it gets smashed off, it is then £600 rather than £60.