Tube Lines, the company which manages fleet vehicles for Transport for London, has chosen smart to assist its engineers in making urgent repairs.
Following successful trials of three smart fortwo cdi coupe models, Tube Lines has taken delivery of an additional 13 cars. The fully-liveried cars will be equipped with a small repair kit, and will be used by Tube Lines’ engineers to visit sites or stations.
After considering a number of different vehicles, including some powered by electric, Tube Lines opted for the smarts to replace a number of its vans. The smart cdi qualifies for 100% discount on London Congestion Charge, as it emits 86g/km CO2 - well below the 100g/km limit introduced by Transport for London earlier this year.
This was a key part of Tube Lines’ decision, along with the fact that a fleet of the smart cdi’s would immediately and significantly lower the company’s carbon footprint.
“The smart cdi was by far the best vehicle for our needs, when it came to combining exemplary environmental credentials with the durability of running day and night, as our engineers keep London moving,” explained Philip Constable, general manager Specialist Services for Tube Lines.
“Using a smart cdi also means we are able to drastically reduce our CO2 emissions and fuel usage, while its better suitability to urban driving means that our engineers are able to carry out repairs quicker than before.”
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Gareth has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist having started his career in local newspapers in the 1990s. Prior to joining Fleet News in 2008, he worked in the public sector as a media advisor and is currently news editor at Fleet News.
GlennEwen - 23/05/2011 18:43
What about the particulates they are emitting from the dirty diesels? Tax system penalises diesel because it is dirty, but they give 100% discount because the CO2 is lower. CO2 is a fertiliser that all plants breath and we breathe out. London will, however continue to operate in spite of these fools.