No Congestion Charge for SEAT’s E Ecomotives
For all those London motorists who are today hit by an unwelcome VAT rise on fuel and an extra £2 on the Congestion Charge, SEAT’s E Ecomotive models may be the next car to get.
The Spanish brand’s Ibiza E Ecomotive and Leon E Ecomotive models all boast official CO2 emissions of less than 100g/km, meaning they not only offer stunning real-world fuel economy but also they are exempt from the charge levied on driver’s entering the centre of London.
These new rules which are effective from today will be warmly welcomed by SEAT owners down south.
Today, the daily Congestion Charge rose from £8 to £10 but among the exemptions is the Greener Vehicle Discount (GVD), which allows a 100% reduction for new cars that emit 100g/km or less of C02 and that meet the stringent Euro 5 standard for air quality. Of SEAT’s growing E Ecomotive family, the most popular- the Ibiza and Leon meet both these criteria.
Owners of Ibiza or Leon models will need to register their cars with Transport for London and pay a nominal fee of £10 per year, but other than that they can venture into the city centre knowing they are escaping the charge and have tailpipe emissions amongst the lowest of any car on the road.
The Ibiza E Ecomotive is the greenest of the green in SEAT’s range, with a C02 rating of only 92g/km. Its eye-catching combined fuel economy of 80.7 mpg, means that even with diesel set to rise to about £1.32 per litre- a range of almost 800 miles will still only cost around £60.
Considering it is a family sized car, the Leon E Ecomotive’s 99g/km CO2 emissions are particularly impressive. The Ibiza and Leon models achieve their efficiency through careful optimization of the latest technology, including common rail TDI diesel engines (1.2 for the Ibiza and 1.6 for the Leon), Stop/Start system, gearshift indicator and Brake Energy Recovery technology. The Leon is also equipped with low friction tyres and enhanced aerodynamics to reach its sub-100 g/km figure.
Aside from the low running costs and exemption from the Congestion Charge, these frugal E Ecomotive models also qualify for a £0 Road Fund Licence each year, further emphasizing their low-cost motoring credentials.