Gee Whiz it's the G-Wiz

By: Drivers.com staff
Date: 2006-07-02

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The G-Wiz, an electrically powered mini car similar to the Mercedes Smart Car, is making a splash in London, England. More than 500 of the vehicles have been sold to commuters wanting to take advantage of the vehicle's congestion tax-exempt status and special privileges in the city's down-town core.

Electric vehicles are exempt from the congestion charge of £8 sterling (about US$15) a day which non-residents pay for the privilege of driving in the British Metropolis's downtown core area. Drivers of electric vehicles also get an exemption from the annual vehicle road tax and use on-street parking free (a perk of up to £40 (about US $72).

One major chain of parking lots even offers more than 90% off annual fees and free recharging to drivers of electric vehicles.

The G-Wiz was designed in California but is built by Reva Electric Car Company of Bangalore, India. It was introduced in London in late 2004 at £7,799 (about US$14,000), with a simplified version available for less than £7,000.

With all the savings in fuel, taxes and parking charges, a G-Wiz owner can recover the entire purchase cost of the car within 12 months, according to Keith Johnston, founder of GoinGreen, (a company founded in 2003 to distribute electric vehicles in London).

A recent report put the average speed of a car in London at just 7 mph.

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