GREEN MEANS GO
DUNDEE TAXI DRIVERS STRUGGLING WITH LOW EMISSION ZONE
Taxi drivers in Dundee have expressed frustration with the city’s Low Emission Zone, which has forced many to make costly upgrades or leave the industry altogether. Drivers of diesel wheelchair accessible taxis have been worst effected by the LEZ, which came into force on 30 May 2024, as some of their vehicles didn’t meet LEZ requirements. Graeme Stephen, chairman of the Dundee Taxi Association, said that the high cost of upgrading vehicles, combined with the difficulty in obtaining electric WAV options, has led to a decline in the number of taxi drivers in the city compared to 2023.
He said: “The wheelchair accessible vehicles were still working very well but drivers had to go and order other ones which were very, very hard to get hold of. “You don’t get an electric WAV. There was one, but Nissan is no longer doing that, and you were only getting 80 to 90 miles with
that, which is no use. “Taxi drivers are getting on a wee bit but [are] still willing to work on. If they try to get a loan for a new vehicle, it’s very difficult because of what taxi drivers are earning and the price of a new vehicle, especially WAVs; companies are not willing to lend that kind of money. “I’m led to believe that some just threw the towel in and put their licence away and gave it up.” More than 5,500 fines have been issued in the first three months of Dundee’s LEZ. Latest figures from Dundee City Council show the total value of fines issued up to August 25, 2024 amounted to £454,320, but only £95,550 has been paid so far.
UBER CEO SAYS ELECTRIC CARS ARE “JUST PLAIN BETTER”
Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber, has outlined the company’s ambitious plans to accelerate its transition to a fully electric fleet in the UK. Speaking at Uber’s annual green event at the Science Museum in London, on October 8, Khosrow- shahi emphasised the benefits of electric vehicles, describing them as “just plain better”
He dismissed the notion that EVs are a political wedge issue, stating that their superiority is undeniable. To encourage the adoption of EVs, Uber is introducing new features and incentives. These include a dedicated EV request option for passengers and plans to reward the rider who saves the most
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emissions with free Uber rides for a decade. Khosrowshahi highlighted the significant growth in Uber’s electric fleet, noting that the number of EVs on its platform has increased from 10,000 four years ago to 182,000 globally, with half a billion zero emissions trips completed and green rides now available in 32 countries. In London, nearly 30% of all Uber miles are now electric as Uber drivers adopt EVs five times faster than the average motorist, he said. The CEO attributed this success to Uber’s efforts to make it easy for drivers to try EVs. Through test drives, events, rental partnerships and purchase discounts, Uber has
encouraged adoption. Drivers have reported increased tips, lower maintenance costs and a more enjoyable driving exper- ience.
While EVs have become a
politically charged issue in many countries, Khosrowshahi believes that their benefits transcend political affiliations. He called for greater collaboration between policymakers and businesses to accelerate the transition to EVs. Khosrowshahi emphasised the need for more affordable EVs, stronger EV mandates, incentives for high-mileage drivers, and widespread availability of charging infrastructure in every community, not just the wealthiest.
NOVEMBER 2024 PHTM
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