Taxi Driver Online

Not sure how widespread this is, but there was certainly one other council looking for volunteers for a similar scheme a few months ago.

Again, can't see many volunteers willing to have their movements tracked, whatever the council claims regarding anonymity


Southend Council appeals for volunteer taxi drivers to help with locations of new electric charge points

https://yellowad.co.uk/southend-council ... ge-points/

Taxi drivers are being asked to help the council decide where four new charge points for electric taxis should be installed.

The council is calling for up to 50 drivers to take part in the exercise that will result in the new charge points being installed for exclusive use by taxi drivers.

To measure the best location for the four charge points, volunteer taxi drivers will be asked to install a device to their vehicles for a month which will track their location and show the highlight the busiest routes.

The data will be completely anonymous and used only to track where there is the most activity.

Councillor Ron Woodley, deputy leader of the council, said: “Just like local households, taxi drivers need help and support to embrace the change to low emissions vehicles and particularly access to charging infrastructure, and I am pleased that this important piece of work is progressing.

“We need to know where best to put the four rapid chargers, and so consultation with the taxi trade has already begun.

“However, we are seeking volunteers to have a device fitted to their vehicles for a month so that we can identify the best locations for the chargers from the activity.

“These drivers will receive a personalised report showing how suitable electric vehicles would be for them and the savings they would make in their running costs.

“The tracking study is due to start during October, so that we can choose locations, and then procure and install the chargers in the first half of 2020.”

The new charge points are part of a wider plan to significantly improve electric car infrastructure in the borough with the aim of having more than 100 charge points across Southend by March 2020.

Funding for the project will come from a £90,000 grant received from the Government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles.

Cllr Carole Mulroney, cabinet member for environment and planning, said: “Promoting better air quality for future generations is a priority for this administration and encouraging sustainable transport is one part of the puzzle.

“Because taxis are relatively high mileage users, they have specific charging needs and need dedicated infrastructure to ensure they are able to top up their batteries.

“We hope that installing more rapid rechargers will make it easier for taxi drivers to consider making the switch.”

Is the tracking really needed?

Drivers know where they spend most of the day/night, it shouldn't need a tracker to tell them that.

Also depends on what kind of chargers they are intending to install. If they are the super fast chargers (80% in 20 minutes) they need to be situated near an electricity sub station.

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IDFIMH

I doubt they can be too flexible on siting it has to be somewhere the vehicle can park safely and suitable for the charging point installation

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

Electric taxis - what can Southend do?

https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/179475 ... -southend/


Image: Southend Echo

THERE is currently only one taxi driver in Southend using a fully electric car, and he is calling for more help from the Council.

Gavin, from Southend, who recently made the transition to becoming the only electric taxi driver in the town, told the Echo that Southend Council are not doing enough to help him and others make the jump to electric taxis.

The 47-year-old, said: “It’s an absolute nightmare at the moment.

“There’s too many other cars using the charging points. There’s always a queue.

“The machines sometimes break.

“Every day I’m using the charge from the day before.

“I’ve tried to change over, but they’re not helping me.

“The council are showing me a complete disregard.”

Earlier last week, Southend Council announced that they are looking for up to fifty taxi drivers to take part in a study to help decide where four new rapid recharge points for electric taxis will be installed.

The four rapid electric chargers will be for the exclusive use of taxis, making it easier and more viable for taxis to be electric and help to improve air quality in and around the town.

Ron Woodley, deputy leader of the council, said: “Taxi drivers need help and support to embrace the change to low emissions vehicles and particularly access to charging infrastructure, and I am pleased that this important piece of work is progressing.

“We need to know where best to put the four rapid chargers, and so consultation with the taxi trade has already begun.

“However, we are also seeking up to fifty volunteers to have a device fitted to their taxis for a month so that we can analyse the activity and identify the best locations for the chargers. These drivers will also receive a report showing how suitable electric vehicles would be for them and the savings they could make in their running costs.

“The telematics device that would be installed tracks movements but is completely anonymised and will not show the council specific car or driver details.

“The study is due to start this month, so that we can choose locations, and then procure and install the chargers in the first half of 2020.”

Carole Mulroney, councillor for environment and planning, added: “Promoting better air quality for future generations is a priority for this administration and encouraging sustainable transport is one part of the puzzle. Taxis are relatively high mileage users, and therefore have specific charging needs and dedicated infrastructure to ensure they are able to top up their batteries.

“We hope that installing more rapid rechargers will make it easier for taxi drivers to consider making the switch.”

But is this enough?

Gavin added that taxi drivers know that his charge doesn’t last a whole day’s work. He said: “Other drivers wait for me to say no to passengers because they know I can’t go the distance.

“They did promise me a charger nearby but that has not happened.

“If you could charge your car outside your home, it would save everyone money.

“Electric taxis are a really good money saving device, as well as being good for the environment.”

Alongside Southend Council’s electric taxi project, councillors are also looking to improve public charging infrastructure, to add to the 14 public charge points currently available.

External funding has been gained that should see the installation of least another 90 public charge points in the first few months of 2020 and another 80 more points through street lights is being investigated.

Kevin Buck, Southend councillor for Prittlewell ward, who has spoken out before about electric vehicles in the town, stated that charging points in the town needs addressing. The shadow councillor for highways and transport, said: “The fact that we have only one rapid charge point in the town needs addressing immediately.

“We’re lagging behind our European neighbours.

“I’m constantly being approached by residents and members of the community about this issue.

“There simply are not enough rapid charging points.

“I will keep raising awareness of this. I’ve written to Ron Woodley and Glynn Jones.”

Taxi drivers interested in taking part in the study should contact Elo Knight, the council’s energy officer on 01702 212709 by Monday October 14.

There's a couple of comments on the Echo's website under this morning's piece from members of the public lamenting the fact that a pair of near identical Renaults are *always* parked at charging points opposite Sainsbury's. They think it's some kind of trick. And that they can actually be seen on StreetView. So naturally I had a look...

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...and within literally a minute or so it all became obvious - they're part of some kind of car club, so of course they won't move. Or at least they won't move very much.

Which if they hadn't noticed while actually visiting Sainsbury's, it should have been pretty obvious when they looked at it on Street View. Bizarre

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sains ... d0.7091704

Mirrors what a mate of mine went through last year.

Bought a 100% electric car and it nearly sent him mad with stress.

Gave it back to the dealers after 3 months.

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IDFIMH

Hybrid isn't the answer either. Back in 2013 i got a Toyota Auris hybrid. That was giving about 56mpg on mainly rural work. It went back off lease and I replaced it with a Skoda Octavia which gave 64mpg and cost less in maintenance, service every 22,000 miels instead of every 10,000 with the Toyota. Electric in rural area just won't work due to the high amount of dead mileage involved.