So the London HC age rule will soon be 13 years. Would imagine the vast majority of those older vehicles will already be on the scrapheap anyway
Anyway, article seems to come to a very abrupt end, but there's definitely no more on the website
The important rule change coming to London taxis which could leave hundreds of black cabs on the scrapheap
https://www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-n ... n-21849697
TfL is forcing taxis with high emissions off the streets to make the fleet greener
In a bid to improve air quality in the capital and make London's iconic taxi fleet a green one, Transport for London (TfL) is decreasing the age limit for polluting taxis for the third year in a row.
Since 2019, every November 1, TfL has cut the age limit for taxis allowed on London's roads. This year, the age limit is being reduced to 13 meaning that any taxi which does not meet Euro 6 emissions standards or is zero-emission (such as electric or hydrogen-powered taxis) must be off the road by October 31.
There were some exemptions for selected vehicles such as vintage taxis not used in regular service, but since 2019, these exemptions are no longer available meaning even taxis being preserved must get off the capital's roads.
Earlier this year, taxi bosses speaking with the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association (LTDA), warned that: "It's gonna be bedlam!"
That's because financing for new zero or low-emission taxis is harder to come by given the supressed demand London's taxis are seeing following the coronavirus pandemic.
Although nightlife is starting to return, the peak hours fares taxi drivers would usually collect still have not returned in significant quantities. The pandemic also means taxi firms have needed to accelerate their efforts in contactless payments.
TfL's website proposes a solution for any affected taxi drivers, stating: "We are helping to fund a government-led plug-in vehicle grant, which will give taxi drivers up to £7,500 off the price of a new ZEC [zero-emission] taxi."
Nonetheless, Lee Dacosta from Cabvision didn't see this alleviating the number of taxis having to come off the road. Mr Dacosta said: "In my view I think it[the shortage]'s gonna get worse. Huge. Huge. We are gonna be losing, I'm told, somewhere between 1,500 and 1,800 cabs possibly this year."
