http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-38170794

Quote:

The diesel ban is hugely significant. Carmakers will look at this decision and know it's just a matter of time before other city mayors follow suit.

The history of vehicle manufacture shows that firms that do not keep up with environmental improvements will fail in a global market. The biggest shapers of automobile design are not carmakers, but rulemakers.

There is already a rush to improve electric and hydrogen cars and hybrids. That will now become a stampede.

Bodes well for my depreciation  Wanted a Series 2 LR since childhood but previously owned MY16 Disco Sport HSE TD4 Auto, MY13 RR Sport Black Edition TDV6 Auto, MY10 RR Sport HSE TDV6 Auto, 2007 Freelander 1 Freestyle TD4 Soft Top, 2009 Freelander 2 GS TD4 Auto, 2007 Freelander 2 GS TD4, 2004 Disco 2 Metropolis Auto, 2002 Disco 2 GS, 2000 Freelander 1 SE TD4 SW

Still hoping for a S2 one day!

I won't be able to drive in Mexico City? This is a bit of a blow for my Round the World RRS Challenge trip I wasn't planning! I reckon London will be next, though, they are already talking about very high charges for diesel drivers.

I have been trying to work out why Land Rover do not offer the 3.0 petrol in AB trim. Doesn't seem to make sense, does it?  L405 P400e Autobiography (MY2020)... Silicon Silver / Espresso
RRS TDV6 HSE Lux (MY2011)... Nara Bronze / Arabica - now gone!

I think we've all been conned into buying diesels and seeing petrol as evil - now everyone is backtracking

I briefly bought a Jag in 06 to replace my D2 fearing the end was nigh for big 4x4s but now they're booming so go figure

The diesel witch-hunt does seem to be gaining momentum though - manufacturers are slow to change when selling well unless legislation forces them to and it looks like the penny is dropping

I remember at school in the 70s80s being told oil was running out but not much sign of that yet looking at the number of vehicles on the road

I'm sure cities in UK will follow this lead especially after yesterday report on pollution - if nothing else it's revenue for cash strapped councils - "we don't mind you polluting as long as you pay"  Wanted a Series 2 LR since childhood but previously owned MY16 Disco Sport HSE TD4 Auto, MY13 RR Sport Black Edition TDV6 Auto, MY10 RR Sport HSE TDV6 Auto, 2007 Freelander 1 Freestyle TD4 Soft Top, 2009 Freelander 2 GS TD4 Auto, 2007 Freelander 2 GS TD4, 2004 Disco 2 Metropolis Auto, 2002 Disco 2 GS, 2000 Freelander 1 SE TD4 SW

Still hoping for a S2 one day!

The other thing is that we constantly told that using public transport is so much kinder on the planet.............. how many 16 plate buses have you seen with the latest hybrid engines? Round here the few buses we have are ancient and emit huge black clouds from their exhaust. What is the point of shifting away from diesel engines in cars if we still have to generate the electricity from fossil fuels to power electric and hybrid cars............. next thing is they will be wanting to ban all the hybrids and electric cars because of the pollution caused making the electricity and disposing of worn out batteries............ make every one go by push bike or walk - we never had these problems in the Middle Ages, just killed thousands by other means like wars and epidemics! I'm sure that my ship's exhaust emits way more harmful pollutants than all the buses in the UK so we need to stop global trade - no more Kenyan Green Beans or Bananas in the middle of winter! 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

Agree on the public transport/buses Tim

The battery argument promoted by Jeremy Clarkson is out of date - http://auto.howstuffworks.com/can-electric...cycled.htm

Quote:

When the battery packs in a lithium-ion-powered vehicle are deemed too worn out for driving, they still have up to 80 percent of their charge left. So before they ever get to a recycling center, these batteries are used to prop up the grid, especially alongside energy sources that may not be quite as steady, like wind or solar power. The batteries can store power to help the flow of electricity stay on an even keel rather than ebb and flow with the weather.

Just read a post in the independent today for policy by the labour part to cut all car sales to zero or low carbon in 10 years!
Not just diesel but petrol on the evil list.

http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/jerem...spartanntp

Its perplexing to think that electric vehicles could tow caravans and heavy trailers in todays form.

Even more frightening is that the basic Jag Ipace, Tesla's P90's with Ludicruous mode and a few other ZEV's can out run SVR RRS's and F Type SVR and most of today's hyper-cars............. but they will run out of juice even quicker than any of them too! At least it will only cost them £5 to recharge unlike the supercars! 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

This idea of banning diesels from cities is just childishly dodging the issue whist also very unfair. Start to raise the tax on new diesel cars now, cut tax significantly on petrol now, and, with the average age of cars in this country at about 6 years IIRC, by 2025 the diesel emissions issue would be well on its way out by the fairest possible means. Of course the interest groups will have their way and politicians will probably implement the unfair bans rather than have manufacturers complain about the tax imposed on their newly developed diesel engines.  Visiting from DISCO3.CO.UK
2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 Auto HSE Zambezi Silver

It's known as the PHEV effect, or previously known as the greenhouse effect....  2007, HSE, Cairnes Blue, Factory tints, Love it !!!

I don't drive in to London - indeed I've never driven in London - so not too worried what they do. Of greater concern is ordinary towns jumping on the bandwagon.

My slight itch for a 5.0 RRS or FFRR might start to get stronger if the whole witch hunt takes off. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

I read last week that RFL rates for cars are changing from April 2017. I think it was
buried in the 2015 George Osbourne Budget and came about because too many
low CO2 cars were being sold and the government wasn't taking in enough duty.

See link :

http://www.carbuyer.co.uk/news/149454/new-...ar-in-2017

Low car tax will not stay long term, we need money to fund the roads. It's an incentive and when we are all electric the tax will evidently rise. Paris looks like a mess with smog, with odd/even numbered plates can drive alternate days and fines if your caught , by accounts the free public transport offer a good idea but its also maxed out.

phillh wrote:

I read last week that RFL rates for cars are changing from April 2017. I think it was
buried in the 2015 George Osbourne Budget and came about because too many
low CO2 cars were being sold and the government wasn't taking in enough duty.

See link :

http://www.carbuyer.co.uk/news/149454/new-...ar-in-2017

Cheers Tim, I should have said new cars

More bad press for diesels http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-38274792

Quote:

A campaign led by medical professionals is calling for all diesel cars to be banned from London.

Doctors Against Diesel claim 9,400 Londoners a year die prematurely from breathing in toxic fumes from diesel engines.