Taxi Driver Online

Pretty thin story this - suspect it's effectively just a plea for more charging points, and probably tells us little that wasn't known already.

Dundee’s electric taxi fleet ‘struggling to cope in severe winter weather’

https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/d ... r-weather/

Dundee’s electric taxi fleet is struggling to cope in the severe winter weather, it has been claimed.

The city has been hit by an icy blast in the past few days, leading to schools, libraries, colleges and universities closing.

The Beast from the East has also resulted in traffic being heavily disrupted, with bus services and roads affected across the region.

Now, the cold snap has highlighted issues with electric taxi vehicles, according to cab bosses.

Chris Elder, taxi rep for Unite, said: “Because drivers have had to use heaters and wipers, as well as their two-way radios and on-board computers, they have found that taxis have been running out of charge more quickly.

“Some passengers have complained that the cabs have been cold, so drivers have been forced to turn the heating up.

“We are going to ask the city council if they could provide more charging points in areas like Whitfield and Menzieshill.”

Lee Jack, owner of 505050 Taxis, which operates nine electric vehicles, said: “The weather has been severe and drivers have had a big demand on their charge, but it has been no worse than on a cold, wet day.

“Electric taxis are definitely the way forward, however, and more charging points across Dundee would be very welcome.”

The council’s city development convener, Councillor Lynne Short, said: “Dundee has one of the most extensive charging infrastructures in the UK with one of the rapid chargers officially the most used in Scotland. It’s also worth noting that the second-most used in Scotland is also here in Dundee.

“The council owns 58 chargers at eight publicly available locations, including Scotland’s first rapid charger. Plans are already approved and work is starting on another array on one of our main commuter routes.”

Meanwhile, the Beast from the East is loosening its grip on Dundee — but locals are still being warned to take care.

A yellow “be aware” warning for snow has been in place for the Tayside region since Wednesday and will not lift until the end of Monday at the earliest.

This just goes to show that that the technology available for electric taxis is not yet fit for purpose in terms of real world mileage.

London learnt that with the Boris buses, hybrids that never got warm in winter and were too hot in summer a they didn't have opening windows.

the type of batteries used cannot keep their charge in cold weather so endurance will be well down

One of my drivers has an Auris and if he leaves something on whilst stationary we often have to get the jump leads out but it starts ok in the mornings

I heard a story the other week that fully charged mobile phones in subzero temperatures can last less than an hour if they are not protected from the cold

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

The standard battery is only there to initialise the electronics, the main traction battery starts the engine. Once started the hybrid battery then trickle charges the small battery (theres no alternator), all of the vehicles systems are then powered by the hybrid battery not the small one.

The small battery shouldn't go flat unless something like an interior light is left on for several days, looks like the small battery is on its way out. When I work I switch the Auris on and it doesn't get turned off again until the end of shift, even if sat waiting for a job - tell your driver to do the same !

I think the recharge time is part of the problem, alongside the lack of recharging posts.

It basically takes too long, and if you always use a supa dupa charger, if you can find one, that effects the life span of the battery.

We are a long way from a viable electric fleets, so I will not be jumping on that bandwagon.

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IDFIMH

So why doesn't the cab owner arrange to put his own charge points in if he wants more?

In Blackpool a company (Premier Cabs) currently has 70+ Nissan Leafs and Nissan eNV200's on their fleet and they have put their own charge points in at 5 or 6 locations (car parks) around the town for their use only.

Hidden agenda on numerous levels, I suspect.

He's probably an individual owner/driver, so thinks it up to the council to provide these things.

Doubt if he's even running an electric vehicle. It's smelling a bit like the WAV thing in Dundee - the saloon owners were keen for others to run them, but wouldn't run them themselves. Suspect it's same thing for the union rep and electric vehicles here - he's trying to make it easier for those running them so he doesn't have to run one himself.

Suspect there are other reasons as well...

“Because drivers have had to use heaters and wipers, as well as their two-way radios and on-board computers, they have found that taxis have been running out of charge more quickly."

No Sh*t Sherlock..Iv'e be saying that for years.