GREEN MEANS GO
GOVERNMENT TO HELP MORE BLACK CAB DRIVERS GO GREEN WITH FURTHER FUNDING SUPPORT
More green taxis will take to the UK’s roads thanks to an extension to the Plug-in Taxi Grant (PiTG) announced on 21 February 2024, following its initial success. Cab drivers will be able to keep up momentum through extended funding until 5 April 2025 at a rate of £6,000 per vehicle, providing certainty to those who are looking to make the switch to electric. Since its introduction in 2017, the PiTG has provided more than £50 million to support the purchase of over 9,000 zero emission cabs – supporting skilled British jobs in the car industry and helping to decarbonise the taxi fleet. As a result of the grant driving
change in the industry, over 54% (8,299) of London’s licensed taxis are now electric, with the number of electric taxis increasing by 24% in the last year alone as more drivers utilise government funding. Technology and Decarbonisation Minister, Anthony Browne, said: “From Redbridge to White City, it’s now more likely than ever that your black cab will be green, with the majority of taxis sold in London now being electric. The grant has been a huge success so far, and I’m pleased our funding will be ontinued for another year to help cabbies make the switch to new vehicles.” The electric taxi market has grown
rapidly since the grant’s intro- duction, with sales overtaking the number of diesel taxis sold in London in 2022, marking a milestone for the sector. Nationally, more than one in ten (12%) taxis are now zero emission capable. Steve McNamara, General Secretary of the LTDA said: “Today’s announcement provides the certainty and support hard working taxi drivers and fleets need to continue investing in the future of this important sector and delivering the high-quality, accessible service London’s iconic black cabs are known for, all whilst helping to clean up our air and working towards net zero.”
EV CHARGING PILOT COULD BE A GAME CHANGER FOR BRADFORD
Terraced streets in Bradford could soon get EV charging points thanks to a “game changing” pilot involving BT. Earlier this year, BT revealed plans to alter some on- street cabinets to create charging points. It was seen as a break- through in providing charging infra- structure in areas without off- street parking spaces. A Bradford Council committee has been told the authority will be taking part in BT’s pilot scheme to see how effective these new on- street charging points could be. The scheme was discussed by the council’s Regeneration and Environment Scrutiny Committee last month. However, one councillor questioned whether one charging point on a terraced street would
44
make much of a difference in the switch to electric. The committee received a report on environmental sustainability work taking place in the district which included data from CAZ cameras that showed c. 7,000 EVs pass through the zone every day. Late last year, the council launched the EV Taxi programme – funded through CAZ income, providing grants of up to £10,000 for the purchase or two-year lease of an electric taxi. A total of 450 applications for support have been made by taxi drivers so far. Concerns had previously been raised in Bradford that the city’s terraced streets were not com- patible with electric car charging. The report says the BT pilot could
be one way to tackle this issue. It says: “The council is participating in a nil-cost pilot with the BT Group to explore use of BT’s on-street points of power (DSLAM boxes) to build an accessible public charging network. At this initial pilot stage, BT will provide installation of up to five public EV charge points for the pilot evaluation period.” At the meeting Andrew Whittles, assistant director for sustainability, said: “The project could be a game changer. BT has those green boxes, a number of which are being upgraded that will see an electricity cable run from them, underneath the pavement to create a new charging space. This would help encourage more people in Bradford to get EVs.”
MARCH 2024 PHTM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78
