GREEN MEANS GO
ELECTRIC TAXI GRANT EXTENDED AS UK BOOSTS ELECTRIC VEHICLE FUNDING
Drivers, cabbies and businesses are set to benefit from £120 million in government funding to make the switch to cleaner vans, wheelchair accessible vehicles and taxis easier, faster and cheaper. On Tuesday 25 February 2025 Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood, confirmed that the department is extending the Plug- in taxi grant for another year, to help taxi drivers transition to zero emission vehicles. The department is supporting taxi drivers make the switch to electric vehicles for another year, making £4,000 available to buy an
by
iconic zero emission black cab amongst other models, making journeys
cleaner and more
comfortable for passengers. Furthermore, the Plug-in wheel- chair accessible vehicle grant cap is also being increased from £35,000 to £50,000, giving consumers a wider choice of vehicle models and removing barriers for disabled passengers, so that they can get around more
easily and with
greater peace of mind. The transition to electric continues at pace. With over 382,000 electric cars sold in 2024 – up a fifth on the previous year, with one in three
used EVs under £20,000 and 21 new EVs RRP under £30,000. Owning an EV is also becoming cheaper, with drivers able to save up to £750 a year if they mostly charge at home compared to petrol. Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood, said: “Today we are making it easier, faster and cheaper for people to switch to electric vehicles. “By making the transition to zero emissions a success, we’re helping to drive growth all over the UK, putting more money in people’s pockets and rebuilding Britain to deliver our Plan for Change.”
BRADFORD COULD BECOME HYDROGEN TAXI HUB IN TOYOTA PILOT SCHEME
Bradford could soon be home to a fleet of hydrogen-powered taxis as part of a pilot programme with automotive giant Toyota. Bradford Council has revealed ongoing discussions with Toyota that could bring hydrogen cell Mirai cars to the district. The potential partnership hinges on the development of a state-of- the-art hydrogen fuel site on Bowling Back Lane, which recently secured government funding, confirmed by Chancellor Rachel Reeves late last year. This refuelling station would be crucial for the hydrogen-powered taxis. The potential pilot programme was revealed during a Bradford Council meeting where Councillor Mohsin Hussain requested an update on the rollout of electric taxis, funded through the district’s
26
Clean Air Zone. The council’s response highlighted the success of the Clean Air EV Taxi Fund, stating it has already facilitated the upgrade of 520 taxis to zero emissions, with further applications being processed. “This will result in around 800 electric taxis – the highest number of electric taxis in the UK outside London,” the response added. Beyond EVs, the council’s statement revealed its exploration of other decarbonisation strategies for the taxi and private hire fleet. “The council continues to look at potential alternative funding sources and is also in discussions with Toyota regarding a Pilot Hydrogen Taxi Programme, involv- ing fuel cell Mirai cars, to coincide with the roll out of hydrogen infrastructure in the district.”
The Toyota Mirai is an electric vehicle powered by a hydrogen fuel cell stack, which generates electricity on demand by combining oxygen and hydrogen. These vehicles are refuelled at hydrogen fuel stations, such as the planned facility on Bowling Back Lane. Toyota describes the Mirai as “the next step in the age of zero harmful tail pipe emissions, powered by electricity made in its innovative fuel cell stack that fuses oxygen and hydrogen together.” The Bowling Back Lane hydrogen production site is projected to generate £120m for the local economy and create up to 125 jobs. With a daily production capacity of 12.5 tonnes of hydrogen, it has the potential to displace the equiv- alent of 800 diesel-fueled buses from West Yorkshire roads daily.
MARCH 2025 PHTM
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