Taxi Driver Online

Councillors agree to grant licensing exception to new zero-emissions taxi firm

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/zero-taxis- ... -1-5540899

A vision for a new taxi firm promising a zero-emissions service has moved a step closer to becoming a reality.

Leon Davies and James Phillips, who are looking to set up a firm called Zero Taxis, have been told by councillors that an exception to licence conditions could be granted for their vehicle - a Nissan Leaf electric car.

With the vehicle being electric, it does not have an engine - with the motor powered instead by a battery.

Members of Broadland District Council’s licensing committee unanimously voted in favour of granting an exception for the vehicle, required due to the vehicle having a battery as opposed to an engine.

The decision means now that Zero Taxis can apply for a full private hire vehicle licence and launch their company.

A spokesman for Broadland District Council said it was a preliminary application to distinguish whether an exception would be made, ahead of the pair submitting a full application.

Wasn't going to post this, but actually quite an interesting little piece, and in contrast with Edinburgh rejecting the three-wheeler because it didn't meet the PH spec there.

So what's the deal with electric cars and the 'motor' requirement?

Sure in Scotland taxis and PHCs defined as 'motor vehicles', yet Nissan Leafs certainly licensed in Dundee.

I recall the pedal-powered tricycles plying for hire locally, but apparently because they weren't motor vehicles they were licensed as street traders under the legislation, which meant they could ply for hire. Think the bikes in Edinburgh are similar.

But rejecting a vehicle because it doesn't meet the vehicle spec reminds me of the stretch limo thing up here. Because they often didn't meet the spec then some councils wouldn't let them operate, but I think others took the view that because they didn't meet the spec then they should be allowed to operate unlicensed

It would have been the height of utter stupidity for the council to reject the electric car cos it didn't have an engine.

But it does beg the question as to why the policy wasn't updated a few years back, due to the move (albeit slowly) to more green versions of transport.

That said, in my view, some of the laziest civil servants can be found in licensing departments, and some of the thickest councillors can be found on licensing committees.

Thankfully the above doesn't apply in my manor.

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IDFIMH

It does apply in every manor.

the thing is though that electric cars have " motors " which should really be counted as the same as an engine as it performs the same job i.e. propulsion

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

It's worth pointing out here the legal definition of a private hire vehicle, as set down in the 1976 act.

"private hire vehicle" means a motor vehicle constructed or adapted to seat
[fewer than nine passengers], other than a hackney carriage or public service
vehicle [or a London cab] [or tramcar], which is provided for hire with the
services of a driver for the purpose of carrying passengers;

No mention of engines.

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IDFIMH

Definition of Engine:

"engine
ˈɛndʒɪn/
noun
noun: engine; plural noun: engines; noun: railway engine; plural noun: railway engines

a machine with moving parts that converts power into motion."

That could be Leccy, Petrol, Diesel, Steam or many other power sources.

Mind you, I'm [edited by admin] off with them lying over EV cars being "Zero Emission" as they create emissions at every point in their production process and the power they use creates emissions as well...

What they should be saying about EV's is that they are "Zero Emissions at the Point of use" and not peddle the lie that they are Zero Emissions full stop.

This is how a motor vehicle is defined under road traffic law:



So basically the PHV legislation (as per Sussex's definition above) doesn't have a problem accommodating electric vehicles - they're classed as motor vehicles, along with standard petrol and diesel powered cars, or even steam

So the council's specification for PHVs presumably says something about requiring an internal combustion engine of some kind.

But why they're granting an exemption from this to accommodate an electric vehicle - as opposed to updating the specification - is anyone's guess