Taxi Driver Online

Supporters say Dundee electric taxis bid could make city an international ‘pioneer’

Dundee's taxi fleet could be transformed by a green revolution of electric-powered cabs on the city’s streets. Company boss David Young wants taxi licences for 30 pollution-free Nissan Leaf Acenta saloons and will take his case to the licensing committee this week.

He will apply first for 10 permits and if he is unsuccessful — taxi numbers are strictly controlled — he will take the alternative approach of putting them straight on to the road as private hire vehicles. The entrepreneur is being opposed by Dundee Taxi Association who want to protect the existing taxi trade, but Mr Young says he will not be deterred.

He is being supported by a UK environmental thinktank and by Dundee University, whose expert said replacing 100 diesel-powered taxis with electric cars would take 1,200 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions out of the city. As well as tackling Dundee’s serious air pollution problem, his company’s £500,000 investment in electric-powered vehicles and equipment is for business reasons because of their lower operating costs.

The green revolution is the latest venture by the controversial figure in the Dundee taxi trade. Frustrated by a block on new taxi licences, Mr Young’s 203020 company first brought a fleet of silver Mercedes saloons to the city as private hire vehicles. His company then brought distinctive silver London-style hackney cabs to Dundee.

“This is not something we’re doing lightly,” he said. “We have spent a lot of money on electric-powered vehicles and a rapid charging facility at our Isla Street centre. “We are doing this for business reasons and to do something about the shocking air pollution situation in Dundee.”

Friends of the Earth recently expressed concern about vehicle exhaust gases being a silent killer in the city. Major thoroughfares like Seagate, Meadowside and Lochee Road were among the worst streets in Scotland for air pollution from nitrogen dioxide and particulates.

Targets for cleaning up Dundee’s air have not been met, and new evidence has linked long-term exposure to air pollution with increased risk of heart attacks and respiratory diseases. Mr Young thinks bringing electric taxis to Dundee is the radical measure that is needed and he has attracted some heavy duty support.

Environmental think tank Urban Foresight director Dr David Beeton has written to the licensing committee saying decarbonising Scotland’s fleet of 20,000 taxis and private hire cars conforms with the Scottish Government’s vision to phase out fossil-fuelled vehicles.

Taxis’ high mileage makes them a disproportionately large contributor to problems of climate change and air quality, and he described Mr Young’s move as one of “global significance” and “an exciting opportunity for the city to be internationally recognised as a pioneer.”

Dundee University’s environment and sustainability officer Trudy [edited by admin] quantified the saving in carbon emissions, and said air quality would be greatly enhanced around taxi ranks in the city centre. “All eyes are on Dundee as we are the first city to consider switching a taxi fleet to electric,” she added.

Mr Young said: “I have taken off 70 diesel Skoda private hire cars to replace them with the 30 electric Nissan Leaf Acentas in three lots of 10. “The council want more electric-powered vehicles on Dundee’s streets and that is what we proposing to do.

“We would prefer to operate them as taxis and are asking the committee for a variation of their policy to allow this.

“If they don’t we will put them on as private hire vehicles but will keep trying for taxi licences.”

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IDFIMH

Sounds like a ruse to circumvent the regulations just to get more lucrative Taxi licences rather than the PH Licences they already have, If they were genuinely keen to be green he'd make all these new Leccy vehicles PH's. Matters not one Jot if they put 30 leccy Hacks on the road as there is not a similar of Diesel engine Hacks being taken off the road to create any Savings in CO2 emissions, the only real gains would be if they replaced 30 of their own Diesel PH's with 30 Leccy PH's, otherwise there would be simply 30 new leccy Hacks running about on top of the number of Diesel Hacks already plated in Dundee run by other firms.

All part of a Green Swizz that LA's are fawning over these days.

when top gear and other motoring publications conducted tests on the Nissan they where only able to get 80 miles running, with air con off how long does it take to rapid charge 4 hours, not very practical if you get a long run

more press today

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/ ... m-1.404412

I don't think any of these vehicles are intended for the "any job, anywhere" drivers. They are intended more for your city centre only type of work as part of a bigger fleet where they will just do the jobs that are suited to them.

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Grandad,

Aye..In Dundee where the dark winter nights are 19 hours long and Temperatures are akin to that of Iceland, just how far will a Leccy Leaf go with dipped Headlights, Heated rear screen, Wipers, Heating and Air conditioning on full tilt.

Though in the Summer it might just about work.

Plus of course the more weight you carry, the more it is going to need power........the shorter distance it will go.

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

Shock horror, those applications were rejected.

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/ ... n-1.408392

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IDFIMH

Surely a Taxi is a Taxi is a Taxi regardless of whether its Diesel, Electric or Hairy arsed student powered!

So how come Rickshaws can get a Taxi Licence when the numbers of Taxis are capped? seems a bit hypocritical to me.

They where not big enough to carry 4 passengers anyway, and the boots are tiny

A rickshaw cannot be licensed as a taxi in Scotland.

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

Did no one tell the councillors that ?

Clearly not. They should try reading the CGSA

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/