ULEZ - public don't care / uninterested

[Cloud Strife]

I'd probably agree that ZEZs (zero emission zone - i.e. electric or hydrogen power only ) are likely to be common well before requiring Euro 7 is viable. There's already a small one in Oxford. The diesel engine is certainly in its death throes, other than for industrial and marine applications; petrol may last longer but not much longer.

Yes, Gibraltar is heading in that direction already. They've banned the importation of petrol/diesel scooters above 100c already along with petrol/diesel cars above 5 years old, and by 2030, they will ban the registration of anything other than hybrids and fully electric cars. By 2035, only electric ones will be allowed to be registered. While it's not confirmed, local sources say that they'll probably introduce a ban on petroleum/diesel cars entering Gibraltar at the same time.

But yes, I think it's possible that Euro 7 will not focus on reducing engine emissions, but rather on reducing other emissions such as those from brakes and tyres. I think a common European approach is also needed: the UK and EU could easily agree on banning certain types of non-compliant vehicles from crossing the external borders.

Having said that, I'm not convinced that we're going to see any massive breakthrough in range in the near future. That might keep ICEs around for quite a while, especially in contexts where people just can't stop for an hour to wait for a vehicle to charge.

 

[Krokodil]

Only a small number of people would actually be upset by ULEZ.

Most of the complaining seems to come from people who live on the other side of the country and never drive into London anyway.

I'd probably agree that ZEZs (zero emission zone - i.e. electric or hydrogen power only ) are likely to be common

Given the headlines about particulates from vehicles tyres, I'm not sure that even that goes far enough for Central London. Westminster and the City could do with being almost traffic free, with only service vehicles permitted.

Yes, Gibraltar is heading in that direction already.

I can't work out why there are 48,641 cars registered in Gibraltar, even though the population is only 32,688 (more than 6,000 of whom are kids). Is there some kind of tax dodge where foreigners register their cars in Gib, or are commuters from La Linea all driving company cars?

The place is less than four miles from one end to the other, with a comprehensive bus network.

 

[Cloud Strife]

I can't work out why there are 48,641 cars registered in Gibraltar, even though the population is only 32,688 (more than 6,000 of whom are kids). Is there some kind of tax dodge where foreigners register their cars in Gib, or are commuters from La Linea all driving company cars?

The other way: plenty of Gibraltarians are officially resident in Gibraltar, but they actually live in Spain. Quite a few people in/around Sotogrande and the nice part of La Linea (Santa Margarita) are actually Gibraltarians who officially aren't living in Spain. UK-origin Brits used to do this as well, but Brexit put a stop to that. In comparison, Gibraltarians have more or less free access to Spain right now, and no-one is keeping track of their movements across the border. Most Gibraltarians working in Gibraltar but living outside will commute by motorbike, or they'll leave their car in the car parks next to the border. Spain and Gibraltar are using ANPR to try and track cars crossing daily, but the only people ever caught are those who are systematically crossing every day. I know one chap who lives in a large villa in Spain, he just drives to the big car park next to the border and goes by electric scooter to the office. His car rarely enters Gibraltar, so it doesn't arouse any attention.

The reason for doing this is fourfold: schooling, healthcare, taxes (for instance, there's no yearly tax on Gibraltar-registered cars, and the cars themselves are much cheaper because of the lack of VAT, especially electric ones) and pensions. All of these are simply better in Gibraltar, although Gibraltarians in Spain used to benefit from Spanish healthcare too, something that is no longer the case. Having said that, if you're in hospital in Gibraltar and need specialist treatment, then the Government of Gibraltar for British citizens will pay for healthcare in Spain.

 

[Krokodil]

The other way: plenty of Gibraltarians are officially resident in Gibraltar, but they actually live in Spain. Quite a few people in/around Sotogrande and the nice part of La Linea (Santa Margarita) are actually Gibraltarians who officially aren't living in Spain. UK-origin Brits used to do this as well, but Brexit put a stop to that. In comparison, Gibraltarians have more or less free access to Spain right now, and no-one is keeping track of their movements across the border. Most Gibraltarians working in Gibraltar but living outside will commute by motorbike, or they'll leave their car in the car parks next to the border. Spain and Gibraltar are using ANPR to try and track cars crossing daily, but the only people ever caught are those who are systematically crossing every day. I know one chap who lives in a large villa in Spain, he just drives to the big car park next to the border and goes by electric scooter to the office. His car rarely enters Gibraltar, so it doesn't arouse any attention.

The reason for doing this is fourfold: schooling, healthcare, taxes (for instance, there's no yearly tax on Gibraltar-registered cars, and the cars themselves are much cheaper because of the lack of VAT, especially electric ones) and pensions. All of these are simply better in Gibraltar, although Gibraltarians in Spain used to benefit from Spanish healthcare too, something that is no longer the case. Having said that, if you're in hospital in Gibraltar and need specialist treatment, then the Government of Gibraltar for British citizens will pay for healthcare in Spain.

So how do they register their cars if they don't have their own address there? Are residents hiring out the use of their addresses for registration purposes?