If you live in a city that operates the Congestion Charge, then you'll be aware of the effect on car use that the Congestion Charge has had. An inconvenience to many, and similar to the Gauteng toll system that is currently causing debate because of the additional charges. For those that aren't aware, the Congestion Charge is a fee applied to any car within certain categories that enters the city centre. It's not cheap, and it's meant many people have opted for public transport.
But there are ways to get around the charge that don't involve taking a train, bus or bicycle ride to work - hybrid and electric vehicles. Are they a more viable option, when nations around the world are considering introducing charges to mitigate congestion or environmental damage caused by said congestion? Because they're more environmentally friendly, the Congestion Charge can feasibly be waived for cars that meet the requirements. The UK's rule states: "emit 100g/km or less of CO2 and that meet the Euro 5 standard for air quality qualify for a 100 per cent discount."
It sounds like good news, and of course there are other exceptions, from an RAC or local breakdown van to a taxi, but for the average commuter, there is the worry of the hybrid car choice - will you like it?
Well, the success of the Prius and similar models should indicate that yes, a hybrid car is not only high in drive quality and reasonable in price, but also a lot cheaper to run, seeing better distance per gallon of fuel, and you'll find that it's a lot quieter. It's also worth noting that as yet, there's no such thing as an old banger when it comes to hybrid cars, as they're all relatively new, so local prices in the area may reflect this, especially due to the import costs of less generic cars such as these. However, if you go straight for electric when you take to the Gauteng freeway, bear in mind that recharge points, even in the city, are few and far between. It's a risk you take, because if you run out of juice, that's it, you're stuck.
There are similar worries for those wondering if freeway toll charges are going to impact how affordable getting to work will be - will a commuter bus be as good as driving your own car? Well, it's arguable that it might be cheaper, but when it comes to travel outside the freeway, not being able to stop and start travelling on wheels where you like can be frustrating for some.
Environmentally-friendly cars are becoming a much more viable choice than they were ten or twenty years ago. The world is pushing drivers towards these choices with the Congestion Charge and similar concepts, but whether they catch on or not will largely be based on whether people outside the big city think they're worth the time and money.
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