ETA

The City of London is withdrawing free parking for electric cars because the scheme is proving too sucessful and the council would rather people travelled by rail and bus.

The City of London has since 2001 issued free parking passes to nearly 500 drivers of the zero-emission cars. But the scheme is being axed because the council feels commuters are adding to congestion by using the cars instead of walking, cycling or travelling by public transport.

New owners of electric vehicles will have to pay the standard charge of £4 an hour at meters.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association said: “The logic behind the council’s decision appears a little skewed as removing this benefit is as likely to push people onto public transport, which is more polluting, as encourage commuters to walk or cycle. The only certainty is that the council’s revenue from parking will increase as a result of this change in policy.”

According to the ETA, a commuter trading in an electric car (powered by a provider of sustainable energy) in favour of public transport will increase their carbon footprint.

The EV Network is a resource for electric vehicle (EV) users documenting the locations of all the public charge points in the UK. Additionally members can gain access to an additional pool of privately-owned charge points contributed by other members on a cooperative basis.

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The ETA is a not-for-profit ethical organisation providing motorists with carbon-neutral breakdown cover and insurance products. As well as encouraging responsible driving to reduce carbon, the ETA campaigns for sustainable transport.