I’ve just had lunch with an old buddy who is well placed within a certain government agency and historically a very reliable source.
He told me that there is an increasing concern about after market tuning having an adverse effect upon emissions and rendering a large number of vehicles technically uninsured.
The intention is, using existing legislation to create an additional taxation group for vehicles that are not within manufacturers original tolerances as a result of post manufacture modification. MoT checks will in future include downloading information from on board diagnostics and comparing with an electronic profile. On the road random checks similar to those used to detect red diesel are also envisaged.
I know we are all responsible owners and report all our modifications to our insurers but it is a worry if it leads to increased VED and possible exclusion from the Low Emission zones that are being planned for a number of cities in UK and beyond.
Lots of things are been held up by our paralysed Parliament but apparently this is covered by existing legislation, the only Governmental decision needed will be to decide the size of the VED increase.
The working target is currently 12 to 18 months although if the EU are out of the picture it could be done much sooner.
I’ve not read anything about this but my source has always been reliable.
Has anybody else heard anything about this proposal?
Remapping, tuning boxes etc
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- Bling Bling Diamond Member
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Re: Remapping, tuning boxes etc
That’s very interesting. I’ve not heard anything about this, but it does seem a very plausible way for the government to raise additional revenue.
With the likelihood of more zero emission and low emission vehicles appearing on the UK’s roads over the next few years that attract low or zero first year VED - so less revenue for the government - consideration is no doubt being given to ways of plugging any VED revenue gap.
With the likelihood of more zero emission and low emission vehicles appearing on the UK’s roads over the next few years that attract low or zero first year VED - so less revenue for the government - consideration is no doubt being given to ways of plugging any VED revenue gap.
Re: Remapping, tuning boxes etc
I can't imagine this being viable at all. The additional labour and tech required to administer an electronic signature test in order to identify a tiny number of eligible vehicles would involve a massive increase in the MOT charge.
Random checks would involve police resources and specialist equipment, both of which cost money. I can't see that being viable at all.
Random checks would involve police resources and specialist equipment, both of which cost money. I can't see that being viable at all.
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Re: Remapping, tuning boxes etc
They said the same about the practically of the breathalyser. They said the same before the MoT was introduced.
I’ve no axe to grind on this just passing on what a very reliable source told me.
There has been one thing of interest reported in at least one newspaper this week and that’s the proposal to replace a substantial part of fuel tax with a mileage charge in order to drag electric vehicles into the revenue stream.
Interesting times and given that government have a continuing dialogue with the motor manufacturers I sometimes wonder what so far unused features lurk within the ECU, it has after all been claimed that it would be quite simple and cost effective to roll out road pricing.
The comparatively small number of modified vehicles is a factor but it is only part of a much larger strategy to deal with actual emission levels rather than those reported by manufacturers and ‘start of life’ emissions that may be very different to the reality of those emitted by vehicles in everyday use.
I’ve no axe to grind on this just passing on what a very reliable source told me.
There has been one thing of interest reported in at least one newspaper this week and that’s the proposal to replace a substantial part of fuel tax with a mileage charge in order to drag electric vehicles into the revenue stream.
Interesting times and given that government have a continuing dialogue with the motor manufacturers I sometimes wonder what so far unused features lurk within the ECU, it has after all been claimed that it would be quite simple and cost effective to roll out road pricing.
The comparatively small number of modified vehicles is a factor but it is only part of a much larger strategy to deal with actual emission levels rather than those reported by manufacturers and ‘start of life’ emissions that may be very different to the reality of those emitted by vehicles in everyday use.
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Re: Remapping, tuning boxes etc
This is I suppose feasible at a cost. Tuners will just try to replicate VW 'dieselgate' type software to fool the system!
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Re: Remapping, tuning boxes etc
Almost certainly.
How do you remap an electric car?
I suppose we will find out in the not too distant future.
How do you remap an electric car?
I suppose we will find out in the not too distant future.