Taxi Driver Online

Don't all rush at once to Southampton to take advantage of these rule changes

Southampton drivers given hybrid and electric vehicle boost

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/1625312 ... cle_boost/

Taxi drivers in Southampton are being given more incentives to convert to hybrid and full-electric cars. Members of the city council’s licensing committee approved plans to allow older vehicles of these types to be used as cabs.

It was unanimously approved to increase the maximum usage age from nine to 12 years, something taxi bosses have welcomed.

These rules will apply to both hackney carriages and private hire vehicles. Currently 158 hybrids are used in the city, with no electric vehicles being taken up.

But councillors hope this will now change as they also voted to allow full-electric private hire cabs to take a maximum of three people, changing a heavily criticised rule that meant these taxis must take a minimum of four passengers.

This, the council says, will help cabbies who predominantly deal with school and social services contract runs, which mainly involves just a single passenger.

It comes less than a year before the council introduces a Clean Air Zone, which will force commercial vehicle drivers in high polluting vehicles to cough up sky-high fees to enter the city.

Regarding the approved policy amendments, Radio Taxis and Radio Drivers Association chair Clive Johnson said: “We are very supportive of the council and thank them for what they have done. “This has been 18 months in the works and we are glad to see it passed.

“It is very important that the council gives our drivers incentives to allow them to afford a hybrid or electric vehicle.”

Other benefits the council has offered for cabbies making the switch includes cashback from a £250,000 pot to help them ‘go-green’.

Taxi driver and union representative Perry McMillan added: “These policy changes will increase the lifespan of hybrid cars – it is something that we have discussed for the past two years, at least. Officers have done a lot of research into this.

“I drive a Toyota Prius (hybrid). It is very economical and very good on maintenance costs. It is very efficient for this sort of industry.

“If we are going to work with the council on the Clean Air Network, then this is the way forward.

“I think it definitely is the way forward and the new 12 year limit does give more scope for drivers to consider getting electric or hybrid vehicles.”

Would imagine most hybrid/electric vehicles bought brand new/nearly new, so is relaxation of age rule from nine to 12 years really going to make much difference?

Would it even make a lot of difference if applied to standard vehicles, except to encourage a few more old and tired cabs on the road?



So a rule requiring cars to carry four passenger is heavily criticised, thus it's reduced to three?

How many cars does this apply to - how many cars only take a single passenger? And why not reduce requirement to one passenger space rather than three?

Suspect this is just a way to allow tiny saloon cars which will only be able to seat two in the back, rather than to actually accommodate single passengers.

Some interesting comments about how 'green' allowing aged hybrids will actually be:

Interesting maybe factual not, definitely Ill informed for instance the source of one of your quotes believes a Peugeot 308 diesel is capable of 94mpg and a brand new Prius is only going to achieve 50mpg, I'm driving an 11 year old Prius with180k on the clock which averages 55mpg easily, to be honest the source of your quote sounds like the typical bloke down the pub who knows feck all about anything but has an opinion on everything.

Yes, and that's why I didn't quote the remarks about fuel efficiency.

But the remarks about the efficiency of the battery seem plausible enough. I would imagine the battery on a 10-year old Prius twice round the clock will be pretty inefficient - isn't it claimed that they would generally need to be replaced well before that? So if it costs a few grand to replace the battery...

But councillors hope this will now change as they also voted to allow full-electric private hire cabs to take a maximum of three people, changing a heavily criticised rule that meant these taxis must take a minimum of four passengers.

now here's a novel idea why not allow them to take up to their seated capacity

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

Looked at a petrol hybrid Mondeo when I bought my present car, fuel/emissions/mph was nearly the same as my super clean econ diesel, and with the diesel I have a proper boot.

As for electric the council, any council, needs to have the infrastructure in place. And that's not only a few charging points but some of the actual charging stations that will do a 80% charge in 20 mins.

Costs for preparing the country for electric charging will be billions. So when councils tinker here and there a bit, to me it's just for show.

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IDFIMH

It actually costs £800 to replace the battery on a Prius/Auris (plus labour ?) Notwithstanding the batteries have a standard 8 year warranty which can be extended to 11 years if an annual hybrid check is carried out. If the inverter fails however the batteries wont charge and the engine runs all the time, another £800 to fix new, less than £300 secondhand. Or free if less than 100,00 miles/5 years. Battery or inverter failures are rare though.

So basically the batteries last the life of the car. If they dont' they are replaced free of charge.

The hybrid Mondeos are pants, I think they only sold about 3 last year ! Can't understand what they were thinking, 'lets make a hybrid, but make it no better on fuel than a standard car, with a smaller boot and a higher price tag' !

Doesn't sound too expensive then, although could imagine drivers persevering with a faulty vehicle if it's nearing end of useful life, or whatever. And was reading that the packs on the more modern versions can cost £5k?

Might have to think about getting one, once my dirty old diesel reaches the council's age rule in six years' time, assuming it hasn't been outlawed in some other way by then

Quick correction (happened to be in the dealers today) :
Hybrid/traction battery cost fully fitted £1500. Prius/Auris. £900 for the battery, the rest vat and labour.

Should the battery/inverter or any service part fail within the first 100,000 miles or 5 years whichever is sooner it will be replaced free under warranty - AS LONG AS the service schedule has been adhered to.

If any other mechanical part fails, not due to wear and tear, and it's failure would not have been prevented by regular servicing it will be replaced under warranty for the first 100k/5 year - even if the service schedule HAS NOT been followed.
This is for Toyotas.

Trouble is most failures are down to wear and tear, but good to know that even if you don't service your car some items will still be fixed free.
Oh and european law says ALL new cars must come with at least a two year warranty.