Looks like the French are taking the plunge . .

http://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2010/12/28/six-collectivites-veulent-interdire-les-vehicules-polluants-dans-le-centre-des-villes_1458368_3244.html

In translation (Coutesy Babelfish)

Hunting for the 4×4 and the old diesel engines is open. D' here a few years, the vehicles emitting too many CO2 and fine particles able to penetrate the respiratory tracts could be seen refusing l' access to the center of certain cities. Six communities indeed will test, as from 2012, of the " zones d' action priority for l' air" (ZAPA) of which l' access will be even limited interdict to the most polluting vehicles. The six voluntary communities to take part in this experimentation were selected on December 8. It s' acts of Large Lyon, the Grenoble-Alps Métropole, Clermont Communauté, Pays d' Aix, Plaine Commune (Saint-Denis) and Paris.

This experimentation is targeted on the communes or groupings of communes of more than 100.000 inhabitants who wish to fight against the pollution generated by the road traffic and his consequences on the human health. " C' is an public health issue: the pollution of l' air decreases l' nine months life expectancy for each French and l' exposure to the fine particles would cause 40.000 deaths each année" , the minister Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet specifies. More than 160 cities in Europe already set up this d' kind; action, according to the ministry of l' ecology. The vehicles concerned with this limited access and the dimensioning of the zones are not at this stage not yet definite. Of Paris, the municipality in particular thinks to prohibit, in certain zones, the 4×4 and the old diesels, listed like most polluting. A steering committee was created, joining together the town hall, the cities close to suburbs, area IDF and the police headquarter. Four scenarios are considered for this restriction, the principal zones d' prohibition being delimited by the motorways around Paris or the limit of the ring road. C' is the ministry of l' ecology which should then create a labelling of the vehicles, " a little like the dishwashers or the refrigerators which have notes has, B, C, D, E, F, G" , specifies Denis Baupin, assistant (Europe Ecology Greens) with l' environment with the town hall of Paris. " The room for maneuver of the communities would consist in choosing this qu' it prohibits, for example the vehicles stamps G and F or only G" , it continues. A device confirmed by Mrs. Kosciusko-Morizet. " One n' do not impose a type of restrictions at the national level, one makes lists of categories of vehicles and each common candidate chooses, a little bit according to her profile, of her center-ville" , she explained. " That was tested in several tens of country d' Europe and that allowed d' to reduce to it by 20 to 40% pollution atmosphérique." The minister estimates that such zones of restriction, which will be tested during three years, seems to him " more justes" qu' an urban toll: " Why, when you are in the outer suburbs, should pay you to go to the downtown area and when you are in the downtown area of Paris, you could have for example one very 4 × 4 Diesel pollutant? " s' she is questioned

Nick

Add this to the motorway tolls that they already have and jollies are going to become very expensive

Wasn't the London Congestion charge really an obilque approach precursor/conditioner of what the the frogs are now doing head-on ?

People will just have to do all their city centre driving in either a very low emission hydro-carbon fuelled car or a direct drive electric - just imagine the fun the chippers will have will engine management software for electrics (And all you'll need to go with it is a high def audio soundtrack of a real car engine).

Postscript

Just seen these two:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11993882

http://www.chargemasterplc.com/about-us/video.html

I think, initially, these electric cars will need to come with a "Get you home/to a chargepoint" battery, rather like the old VW beetle reserve tank, 'cause people are bound to misjudge their distance capabilities until they get used.

Nick

Edited 31 December, 201015 yr by Clunkclick