Mayoral Prius

London mayor avoids Congestion Charge
by Stuart Milne

The Mayor of London could be shunning public transport, after he and his partner took delivery of a Toyota Prius hybrid.

Ken Livingstone – who famously introduced the Capital’s controversial Congestion Charge – picked up the keys to his black Prius T3 from London-based Jemca Toyota.

The Prius will be driven by Livingstone’s partner.

Hybrid vehicles, such as the Prius are exempt from the Congestion Charge due to improved fuel consumption in urban areas and reduced emissions.
Jemca Toyota claim the £8-a-day charge has boosted sales of the Prius, which now accounts for 30 per cent of its new car sales.

A spokesman at Jemca said: “There’s no doubt that much of this is driven by concerns over the extension of congestion-charging west into Kensington and Chelsea next February.”

Other well known personalities who have bought a Prius from Jemca include actors Jude Law and Koo Stark, TV presenter Esther Rantzen and promoter Harvey Goldsmith.