Reasons Why New EV Investment Is Good News for Taxi Drivers
The UK government is throwing its weight of support behind a £650 million investment package aimed at encouraging more people to make the switch to electric cars.
At the heart of the huge funding plan is an EV grant that will see electric cars with a sticker price of £37,000 or less receive a £3,750 discount.
While the exact models that meet such criteria for the grant is yet to be finalised, it is set to include several popular EV taxi choices, including the MG4, the MG ZS and the Hyundai KONA EV and the Kia EV3.
The investment doesn’t just encompass the grant, however, with money being allocated to several other areas for the purpose of stimulating EV sales growth.
The announcement represents good news for taxi drivers with cheaper EV models, improved charging infrastructure and a focus on electrifying fleets set to have a positive impact.
Support for On-Street Recharging Points
While the rise in Clean Air Zones and the expansion of London’s ULEZ have prompted many private hire taxi drivers to go electric for their next car, others have held back due to hurdles in place to get on-street charging points outside their home.
As it stands planning permission is required – though this will be phased out – while concerns over public safety with trailing wires has also proven to be a stumbling block.
However, the government has green-lit plans to allow council to dig gullies in pavements through which wires would be fed, reducing the risk for pedestrians.
Public Charging Infrastructure Expansion
Though there are as many as 82,000 public charging points in the UK – with a new one added every 30 minutes – there remains concerns that the nation is not equipped to deal with any influx of electric vehicle use.
As it stands, electric charging points can be found in a variety of locations, whether it’s the supermarket car park, motorway service stations or at popular tourist destinations, but the government has committed funding to increase the number in regularly visited sites.
Charging Package for Households, NHS and Fleets
The government will also provide funding for local authorities to install charging points in fleet locations, such as ambulance stations and business depots.
This could prove beneficial for taxi fleets in particular should taxi companies have the option to charge electric vehicles within their grounds.
Clearer Signage of Recharging Stations
There will also be a major shake-up in the way charging points are advertised with the UK’s road network signage set to be edited to display exactly where there are large charging stations on motorways and major roads.
Why Buy An Electric Taxi from The Taxi Centre?
Electric vehicles benefit from various grants and incentives ideal for taxi drivers. In addition to lower running costs, electric vehicles are exempt from congestion charges in Clean Air Zones (CAZ) and Low Emission Zones (LEZ) across the country.