Lpg Conversion and the UK London Congestion Charge
If you work or live in or near London, you will know about the London congestion charge. This is a charge of 8.00 per day that you enter London, in the London congestion charge zone. Over the course of the year, this adds to quite a large sum of money. People such as small businesses, and residents who are just outside the area, are hugely affected by this. What can be done about it?
The scheme was created to reduce the congestion in the inner city of London, and to improve use of public transport. It has done this, but there are some companies and individuals who are not able to carry out their business solely using public transport.
There are exemptions to the London congestion charge, however most of these are dependent on something outside your control, such as disability, living in the area, being a vehicle repair service, or drive a minibus. The most practical way of getting a discount on the London congestion charge is via the alternative fuels discount.
If you drive a vehicle which runs on an alternative fuel such as electricity, LPG, or a hybrid vehicle then you are exempt from the London congestion charge. Let us examine the possibilities:
Electric vehicles: most of these are in testing at the moment, and there are many issues about recharging times, the life of the battery, the speed of the vehicle, and the place is that you can recharge the battery. Having said that, electric vehicles are quite possibly the way of the future, and for short journeys and as they are probably quite practical.
Hybrid vehicles: a hybrid vehicle, running on a mixture of electricity and petrol that many of the advantages of both fuel systems. During petrol operation at the higher speeds, the electric battery can be charged, and the electric motor takes over operation during the smaller speeds, such as the crawling speeds which many London journeys take place at. Currently there are very few hybrid vehicles, but are making an increase.
LPG vehicles: one of the main advantages of a petrol vehicle being converted to LPG is that you don't have to purchase a new vehicle, you can simply use your existing vehicle just changed to a different fuel source. You must be careful, that you only have of an LPG conversion by a company which is on the Power Shift register of approved converters, as only these are exempt from the London congestion charge. It is interesting to note, that a van in the congestion charge zone converted on finance would pay no more than their normal fuel costs because of the savings from the London congestion charge and a 40% decrease in fuel costs.
As you can see, there are plenty of options for avoiding the London congestion charge. It is only a matter of what you want to do. Both electric, and hybrid vehicles need you to buy a completely new vehicle, and LPG conversion is an upgrade to your car that can also save you money in fuel costs, but only works on petrol vehicles.
It is your choice, but whatever you do-save money.
