Taxi Driver Online

Not much to see here, but not heard much before about wireless charging, and also talk of exclusive ranks for environmentally friendly cabs


Southend could soon get its first electric taxi to tackle diesel fumes

https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/172114 ... sel-fumes/

ELECTRIC taxis could be boosted by charging bars installed in the streets of Southend.

In a bid to stop toxic fumes clogging up children’s lungs Southend Council is finalising an air pollution strategy.

As well as more conventional means the council is hoping to harness all the available technology to help ensure a healthier population.

One of the measures is to prefer licences for more environmentally friendly taxis.

This could include setting up special low emission taxi ranks for hybrids or “alternatively fuelled vehicles”.

The council will also consider using wireless charging technology allowing taxis to top up during the day.

Among the technology suggested is charging bars in the street which can be activated while driving, something which in the past was only thought of in sci-fi films.

Council leader John Lamb said: “I am really for this I’m really pleased to see this.

“This impacts the health of everyone in the borough and we need to be in a place where we can improve our own air quality.

“We are busy, we have a lot of traffic and its not going to be solved overnight.”

Cliff Short, a Southend taxi driver for 30 years, said: “I don’t think it will become a reality yet.

“They are talking about it but not doing it.

“I know one or two drivers who have got the new Toyota Prius because we know the Government is trying to phase out diesel cars by a certain time.

“Technically it all sounds okay but like everything else it takes change.

“There are 26 electric taxis in London but they can’t charge in certain places.

“There is a lack of infrastructure to back up the plans.

“It needs more thought to make it work.”

In 2016, the council declared an air quality management area around the A127 Bell Junction where high levels of nitrogen dioxide were found.

The resulting “low emissions strategy” now being considered by councillors will see a number of other measures taken to reduce pollution, including making it easier to own an electric vehicle.

Other initiatives will include discouraging the use of diesel in commercial and council vehicles.

The strategy is still being finalised.

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IDFIMH

I look forward to them re-writing the 1847 act to exclude a licensed taxi from a licensed taxi rank.

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IDFIMH

They could exclude certain vehicles from certain zones , allowing only “green” vehicles through, if there happened to be a Hackney rank in that a zone, then so be it. Would this mean re-writing the act ?

We get zones when smaller councils have merged into larger ones, so in effect the cabs aren't being banned from ranks they once worked, or ranks in their licensing area.

What is being proposed is to change the 'right to ply within an area' policy that has been in place since 1847, possibly even earlier.

However I refer any silly council to the Maud -v- Castlepoint judgement.

http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2002/1526.html

In particular.

18. In my view a condition preventing a taxi from plying for hire from a particular taxi stand or stands, or in a particular street or streets, would fall outside the scope of the powers granted by Parliament.

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IDFIMH

typical political claptrap come up with an idea announce it and then find out it's a non starter because someone didn't do their research

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