Taxi Driver Online

Ex-minister Tim Yeo accused of harming public's health with new 'green' London taxis which pump out harmful fumes

• Mercedes Vitos have been hailed as eco-friendly replacement for black cabs
  
• But they emit much higher levels of nitrogen dioxide, which affects lung function and causes respiratory problems
  
• Former Environment Minister was on the board of firm which supplies them

Eco-taxis championed by former Environment Minister Tim Yeo pump out more harmful nitrogen dioxide than the ageing black cabs they replaced.

The six-seater Mercedes-Benz Vitos were hailed as a greener alternative to London’s famous LTI cabs, long derided for being among the capital’s biggest polluters.

Mercedes has gained a strong foothold in the taxi market since the beginning of last year when London Mayor Boris Johnson ordered that all black cabs over 15 years old – a total of 3,000 LTI vehicles – had to be taken off the road.

The Vitos are marketed as a greener alternative and have been shown to emit less carbon dioxide.

But a report released last month by the Department for the Environment revealed that they are actually emitting much higher levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) than taxis built before 2005.

It adds: ‘Given the intensity of taxi operations in the centre of London, the increase in levels of NO2 emissions from the newer taxi fleet is a matter of concern.’

NO2 can decrease lung function and increase the risk of respiratory problems, particularly among children.

Until last year, Mr Yeo was on the board of directors of Eco City Vehicles (ECV) – the firm which supplied the London Vitos.

The MP for South Suffolk received a fee of £40,000 per year and £750,000 in share options as the company’s chairman between 2007 and 2012.

And he highlighted the success of ECV when it received its first order for the Mercedes-Benz Vito model from one of London’s largest licensed black cab operators, Computer Cab PLC.

Speaking at ECV’s annual meeting in July 2011, Mr Yeo said: ‘This is the first ever contract placed by ComCab with ECV and represents a significant breakthrough for the Vito.’

Last night, Mick Small, from the RMT transport union, which campaigned against the introduction of the black cab age limit, criticised Mr Yeo and Mr Johnson.

Mr Small said: ‘The person who had most to gain from these new taxis was Tim Yeo – he had his fingers in Eco City Vehicles.

‘Thousands of cabs had to come off the road and as a result hundreds of taxi drivers were laid off.

And Boris comes out of this as a liar because he said he was going to clean up London’s air quality and now it seems that hasn’t happened.’

Jenny Jones, London Assembly member for the Green Party, blamed the Government for the ‘unacceptable’ levels of NO2 being emitted.

In June this year Mr Yeo stepped down as chairman of the influential Energy and Climate Change Committee over claims he abused his position to help a private company.

He denied the allegations but stepped aside to ensure the ‘smooth running’ of the committee.

A spokesman for Mr Johnson defended the decision to take older cabs off the road. He added: ‘The Mayor remains determined to reduce all emissions from taxis.’

Mr Yeo said: ‘My financial interest in ECV has been correctly disclosed in the Register of Members’ Interests at all times.’



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z2beCCGBf7

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Tim Yeo maybe a target in this campaign - but the London trade should look amongst its own for similar villains

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Eh?

Buy a new one like I did.

I only work as what can best be described as part time hours, if I can afford the cab, upkeep, etc and still make a decent profit, i'm sure they can too.

Drop the Victorian LTI protective turning circle and we can all have cheaper and less polluting taxis.

We might even get one that works.

I'm looking . . .

Perhaps if you bring this to all the other conserned partys mentioned apart from mayonase, you might just get your wish, alegidly Nissan is thinking of pulling the plug due to the Yanks refusal to use the new nissan cab

WTF is that meant to read?

And I thought it was me who couldn't decipher it properly.

Dyslexia , it's the new bad back.

Makes sense to me, you've had to read far more confused rambling than this when folks have been on the beer

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

GBC, there is a guy on the London forums, whose Vito failed a taxi test on the turning circle, could this mean vito owners have been sold a pup

Loads of cabs fail.

You take your cab and get the faults rectified, then it passes.

Quite simple really.

If you take all the faults out of the equasion, and the cab fails just because it cannot perform the 25 foot 7.62 meter turn what could be wrong with it, even if all the joints and tracking was spot on, this was a Vito BTW it could have been the RWS jamed or not fully working, but alegidly there is very little adjustments that can be made

The rws wasn't working. It's that simple, no conspiracies , no back handers, no evil testers.

Mine failed in 2011 for the same reason. 2 days later, rws fixed, it passed.

Remarkable.