Taxi Driver Online

Black cab drivers fear 'death of the industry' after new emissions rules introduced

BLACK cabs could become a thing of the past as the Government cracks down on polluting diesel vehicles, drivers warn.

Cabbies say the crippling costs of replacing their vehicles with hybrid or electric ones will drive many of them out of the industry.

The warning comes after Transport Secretary Chris Grayling suggested private motorists should also opt for lowemission cars rather than diesel.

The Government has ordered five cities – Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham, Derby and Southampton – to introduce a Clean Air Zone by 2020 to meet the EU’s Air Quality Directive.

In a bid to comply with the guidelines, Birmingham City Council has proposed banning taxis that do not meet EU standards, a move that could force drivers to fork out up to £45,000 for new cabs.

Under the proposed rules, only cabs that reach the Euro 3 standard will be given licences in December and by December 2018 the vehicles must be Euro 6 compliant.

By 2026 all black cabs must be ultra low-emission vehicles, electric or plug-in hybrid, and by 2030 they must all be zero emission. 

More than 500 taxis would be forced off the roads by the end of this year, while the city’s entire 1,300-strong fleet of black cabs would be obsolete by 2018.

The council said the moves were for the “greater good of all citizens above the interests of individual drivers”.

Zak Kowalski, a cabbie for 44 years, said: “I am 68. I was hoping to have a few years left but there is just no way I can afford a new cab now. 

“It is very misguided. The infrastructure is not there for electric cabs, there are no chargers, or engineers to work on them here.

“I don’t think people realise how big this is. It could well see the death of the black cab industry.”

In September 2015 Roger Bartlet, 58, bought a £30,000 Ford Torneo taxi that will now be obsolete by December 2018. Yet he will still have two years of payments left.

He said: “It’s dreadful. I put my savings down on a deposit, everything I have.

“I will still have the debt after this change but now how can I sell it?”

There are fears that taxi drivers in cities across the country will be facing similar choices in the future.

source: http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/772111 ... iesel-cars

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

It's dead already without stupid decisions like this. The job is fooked.

They've obviously had a back pocket payment from some manufacturer because when we trigger article 50 that's us done with the fookin EU liars and money grabbers.

I wonder if Poland, Greece and all the other EU countries are going to do the same?

All that's needed is an LPG only engine instead of a converted petrol and problem solved

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

Its euro 6 isn't it , so it will be fine

Unfortunately, Roger's cab is Euro 5!
I work with him at BHX.

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

You are having a laugh aren't you.

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Grandad,

I have an identical vehicle mine is Euro 5

euro 6 engines have a life expectancy of only 100000 miles due to the highly stressed nature of the engines small with big or twin turbo's euro 5 vehicles have more conventional diesels which are more robust !!

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

No, it's not a laughing matter when people livelihoods are at stake.

The triggering of article 50 does not mean we are done with the EU at all.

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Grandad,

Do they mean new cabs though, or every cab thats licence at the moment, Is there an age limit, it could be on a rolling scheme like in London , once they reach 15 they must be replaced, or converted to run on LPG

I'm sure and decent organisation will be able to persuade a council into exceptional circumstances in respect of Roger.

Nidge, the emissions are outside of the EU I think - its a global agreement.

The entire issue is a social issue, not just taxis.

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

the comments are 'interesting' on the express site

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin