Taxi Driver Online

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."

A 12-year-old cab won't meet the Euro 6 standard, surely?

And the point about zero-emission cabs just doesn't make sense


Maybe they should rebadge in Blackpool or Grimsby


It's been compulsory for London HCs for years now, though? Can't see that that's an issue for the London black cab trade at all

What a load of bow locks.

What will force non-compliant cabs of the road in London is the extension of the ULEZ to the area inside the north and south circular roads. £12 a time to visit will stop most of them at the first hurdle. Buses and lorries it's £200 a day.

As for vintage taxis pre-1973, TfL don't licence them, they have an exemption as historic vehicles so can happily continue as wedding cabs as they don't need to be licenced for hire at all.

Electric everything is worrying, I am aware that not only is there insufficient grid capacity in London at present to power London's electric bus fleet but it's a national problem. Electric buses at 2 major garages Waterloo and Shepherds Bush can't charge during the day due to grid supply problems. One operatr on the north side of London was offered a school contract using 3 electric buses, but to get the capacity at his depot would have cost some £7m to run a high tension cable alongside a busy A road to his depot. Even with TfL's finances, the idea was dropped.

No chance, unless it has had a conversion.

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