City of London Withdraws free Electric Vehicle Parking
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 07. 8.08
London Borough to Reverses Free Parking for EVs
No sooner do I report on the virus-like spread of electric vehicle charging points in London, that I hear from our friends at GoinGreen that at least one London borough is preparing to withdraw some of the privileges enjoyed by EV drivers:
Today saw the announcement of changes in the City of London's parking concessions for electric vehicles. Existing users of the borough's electric vehicle scheme will see an increase in on-street parking from zero to £50 per year whereas off-street parking (in the City's car parks) will increase from zero to £2,000 per year in 2009. This off-street parking fee will then increase further to £4,000 per year by 2010 and £6396 in 2011, the same as a ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicle.
While electric vehicle owners and advocates may lament this as a step backwards, the council justified its decision by arguing that such incentives had actually increased traffic in the area – presumably encouraging EV owners heading to neighboring borough’s to park in the City of London and/or taking people away from London’s extensive public transit network. This draws on an interesting and perennial debate in the green movement – do we encourage alternative private vehicles, or do we encourage alternatives to private vehicles? I tend to think the answer is both – but there will be times when one goal conflicts with the other. Those wishing to protest the City of London’s decision can sign a petition online. [For those not familiar with London, The City of London is a small borough within central London, as opposed to the entire capital]
More on Electric Vehicles (EVs) in the UK
Electric Vehicle Charging Continues to Spread Across London
New Electric Vehicle Recharging Points for Central London
Free Charge Up for Electric Cars
Think! EV Reviewed on the Streets of London
UK Utility to Install 250 Electric Vehicle Charging Points
NICE Electric Car Company: Is It a Car, Is It a Van, Is It a Vectrix?
::GoinGreen::via site visit::
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'the council justified its decision by arguing that such incentives had actually increased traffic in the area' - BS - the parasitic so-and-so's just want the money!
Why on earth should people be allowed to store their private property on public streets for free? The reality in London is that few people drive anyway so I'm not sure why anyone thinks that people who use electric vehicles should be given special privileges.
The environmental footprint of electrical vehicles is too large to make them sustainable so I'm not sure why there is any debate in the environmental community. By far the best solution is to alternatives to private vehicles. Let private companies take care of promoting electric cars and the like.
Subsidies- and a reduced parking fee is a subsidy, however else you want to characterize it- are a good way to encourage new technology. But over time they should be eliminated as technology matures. I tend to think phasing these lower parking prices out by 2011 is to fast, but certainly by 2015 EV and PHEV should be able to stand on their own four wheels as a better economic choice than a different car.
In the long run the easiest way to encourage both public transit and efficient/alternative fuel/electric vehicles is simple: tax gas and make it even more expensive. In Europe, where gas is already expensive relative to the US, this is less of an issue. The adoption of electric vehicles and PHEV will already make economic sense with minimal to no subsidies.
Plus, if you find out you've made driving too attractive and people are not taking public transit, you've got plenty of options. One is to make public transit better, if it has been neglected or is simply inadequate. Another is offering incentives to people for carpooling or switching to public transit. Boston has a program like this, where people can get paid a few dollars a day for the first few months after ditching their cars for the morning commute. There is always the option of congestion pricing, though I don't know how effective it is. For this option, though, care must be taken not to overly discourage biking, or other less common transportation types like electric bikes and the like.
Congestion prices is very effective. Cycling increased in London by 30% after congestion pricing was introduced and driving decreased by about 20%.
The problem with encouraging the use of electric cars in a place like London where most people use public transit or walk, is that you are more likely to encourage people who use public transit or walk to drive electric vehicles rather than attract people who are driving cars. In addition, as the cost per trip for electric vehicles is lower than that of IC vehicles, people are more likely to use them which increases congestion.
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The car companies have rejected my idea but two Detroit consultants have told me my ideas are good.
I need help.