RIGHT now, everybody in the automotive industry is talking about the future of diesel and the electric revolution as authorities start to penalise petrol and diesel vehicles ahead of the proposed 2040 sales ban.
As a result of this, the sale of new cars – especially diesel – has plummeted in 2017.
Time to switch?
As a business owner, it is important to think about the future and now is the time to make sure that your company car/fleet will not be costing you more than it needs to in the run-up to the ban. Many businesses are already making the switch to electric or hybrid automobiles, which can be cost-effective when you consider the incentives and low road tax.
The new T-Charge
Those that operate in the capital need to stay alert on the latest developments regarding diesel cars and emissions. In October, the new T-Charge started to roll-out which sees drivers of heavy polluting cars have to pay nearly twice as much to drive in London. Currently, the T-charge covers the same area as the congestion charge zone and adds an extra £10, bringing the total to £21.50 on weekdays.
As almost a 50% boost, this is a significant amount and it is vital that all motorists know whether or not they will have to pay this fee.
Will I have to pay?
Mayor Sadiq’s T-Charge mainly applies to both petrol and diesel vehicles registered before 2006. This is vague, but fortunately, HPI has just launched a handy new tool that enables motorists to easily and quickly check the Euro emission standard rating of their vehicle simply by entering their registration number. This can help businesses and individuals to avoid the hefty charge and any nasty surprises.
The Future
Whilst this tool is helpful in the short term, it is important to be aware of the changing landscape. Currently, the T-Charge will be replaced by the even stricter Ultra-Low Emission Zone in 2019. This will see an additional £12.50 charge for any diesel car registered before September 2015 and any petrol car registered before 2006.
This zone will gradually expand and major cities up and down the country are looking to implement some kind of ban/charge by 2020. In fact, Oxford recently announced that the city will be completely banning petrol and diesel cars from the city centre by 2020.
So, what does this all mean for business owners? It seems that the time has come to take action and look to make the switch to eco-conscious automobiles for company cars. This will help business owners to avoid hefty penalty charges in the near future, even if driving outside of the capital.
Additionally, you can benefit from incentives by making the switch today. There is still time to make the switch, but those that drive in the capital will want to use the handy new HPI tool to ensure that they will not face a hefty fee. If your company vehicle does need to pay the charge, it is worth looking at alternative ways to travel in the capital as it is now extremely expensive.
