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The £1.2m scheme to electrify Coventry's taxis for City of Culture

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/ ... e-15110746

The Go Electric Taxi scheme aims to modernise Coventry’s taxi fleet ahead of the city being the UK City of Culture in 2021


Coventry City Councillors Kamran Caan, Jayne Innes and Jim O'Boyle pictured outside the council house for the handover of the first electric London taxi. Pictured with driver Thiruchelvam Selvaratnam (Image: Birmingham Mail)

Coventry is poised to become a pace-setter in the UK for electric taxis with the launch of an ambitious scheme aimed at encouraging drivers to make the switch from oil burners to EVs.

The aim of the Go Electric Taxi scheme is to modernise Coventry’s taxi fleet ahead of the city being the UK City of Culture in 2021.

The scheme is being launched on Wednesday, September 5, by Coventry City Council, though a number of key partners are also on-board.

It is hoped the scheme could provide a blueprint to encourage electric taxi adoption in other UK cities, as well as improving air quality in Coventry.

The project will see over £1.2m invested in charging infrastructure and other measures.

LEVC, ESB, Siemens and Gett are involved

It is being supported by LEVC, which manufactures electric taxis in Coventry, the Irish energy company ESB, Siemens and taxi app Gett.

The initiative includes the offer of a two-week test drive to all Coventry Hackney Carriage drivers, a £2,500 incentive for the first 60 taxi drivers who go electric, free electric charging during a trial period, as well as zero commission fares on taxi app bookings.

In terms of infrastructure 39 rapid charging points will be installed by ESB and Siemens.

LEVC’s electric taxis will offer passengers laptop charging, mobile phone charging, free WiFi and the option to pay by card.

The new electric taxi loan scheme and charging points are part of a city-wide drive to cut air pollution.

Commitment to cutting air pollution

Cllr Kamran Caan, the council’s cabinet member for public health and sport said: “We are committed to cutting air pollution in Coventry because we know that this will bring health benefits to people, particularly vulnerable residents with pre-existing health conditions.

“Electric vehicles are the future both nationally and globally. I hope that Hackney cab drivers will take the opportunity to try out the loan scheme.

“The vehicles are built locally – and the number of charging points is increasing all of the time.”

Black cabs are iconic

Jesse Norman, Minister for Roads and the Future of Mobility said: “Britain’s black cabs are iconic around the world.

“That is why the Government is supporting this initiative with £1.2 million, helping Coventry to champion these new electric models.

“The Government is committed to improving the country’s air quality and creating a low carbon economy, which is already worth billions.

“Low emission vehicles will be a key part of that transition, showing that we can meet our climate change obligations and also promote economic growth.”

The driver who made the switch

One of the Coventry drivers who has already made the switch from diesel to electric power is Kartar Sabraiwal.

The 59-year-old has purchased one of the new TX models, his sixth Coventry taxi.

Mr Sabraiwal said it would slash his fuel bills and help him save money.

Covering 70-100 miles a day, he estimates he will save £400 a month.

He said: “Electric vehicles are the future – and will mean a smoother, more pleasant ride for my passengers as well as helping clean up Coventry’s air.

“The fact I will be financially better off from making the switch is also a big bonus.”

Improving charging infrastructure

In addition, the project aims to tackle some of the biggest barriers to EV uptake – including concern about charging infrastructure.

The scheme will also see four LEVC TXs used as extended test drive vehicles – offering Coventry cab drivers a chance to experience an electric taxi first-hand.

Chris Gubbey, CEO of LEVC, said: “Coventry has always been the home of the black cab and this new scheme will ensure that Coventry’s taxi sector has one of the most modern, customer-centric fleets in the UK.

“These extended trials will give drivers a chance to get comfortable with our proven EV technology and see how much the vehicle delights passengers.”

LEVC has been producing the TX eCity at its £325m Ansty Park factory since the start of the year, although most of the vehicles produced so far have been sold in London. LEVC currently employs around 800 people in the city, and as production ramps up is set to increase its workforce to around 1,500 people.

How it's being funded

Under this initiative, the rapid charging network in the city will be funded by both the UK Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) and investment by ESB.

Siemens will supply and maintain the multi-standard rapid charging units.

All new electric cabbies can benefit from zero commission on all fares taken with Gett taxi App for the first six months.

seeing as they are built there it's hardly surprising the local council wants to back them

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

I saw my first of these charging up the other day.

They are huge.

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IDFIMH

you jealous ?

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

Certainly not jealous of the price.

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IDFIMH

Similar scheme is being put forward in Sheffield.it sound like another way to sell the cab

They were promoting the electric cab in Liverpool last week. I have to say that I find the £65k price tag to sit on the Asda rank for a £2.60 rtfc a little rich

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

They keep saying you are going to save money fuel wise but omit the huge capital costs in the first place.

Over five years (roughly) with a small interest charge, you are looking at about £1,200 a month.

FFS.

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IDFIMH

And if you save say £500 a month on fuel that makes it £700 a month - so how much does a 'normal' black cab cost per month over five years ?
If it's less than £700 stick with the normal one, if it's more than £700 electric works out cheaper. The maintenance costs on electric will also be cheaper, as well as road tax.

Maybe, But how much time and income do you lose in down time having to charge the damned thing whilst the good old oil burners are still raking in the fares.

Again that's something you have to work out and factor in to the overall costs. You might lose £30 of fares, but save £30 in fuel !

It's all about the bottom line - over the life of the vehicle, taking into consideration purchase cost, maintenance, fuel, charging times, insurance, trade in/resale value - everything, comparing a 'normal' black cab to an electric one, which ends up cheaper ? Or rather which one makes the most profit ?

Rather than focusing on the initial high purchase cost, how do the profits look after 5/7/10 years. Are they greater or less and is that difference significant.

Nothing new in electric vehicles,electric taxis were in London in 1903,problem then is the same problem of today BATTERY.
Factor in the cost of a new battery every 2-3 years and operating costs shoot up enormously.

My mate with a 100% electric car has a 10 year warranty on the battery.

And it's a modular battery so when one part goes that's all they need to replace.

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IDFIMH

Nothing new in electric vehicles,electric taxis were in London in 1903,problem then is the same problem of today BATTERY.

but reliable petrol or diesel vehicles weren't available in 1903 they soon switched once they were

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