High interest rates hit taxi drivers trying to Go Green
Taxi drivers who want to make the switch to electric vehicles are being hit by soaring interest rates as inflation continues to bite.
The UK taxi fleet will play a big part in cutting toxic vehicle emissions and many have already made the switch, with nearly half of London’s 15,000-strong black cab fleet now including EVs and dynamos.
London’s black cabs are turning green
London’s iconic black cabs have turned a corner and there are now more green vehicles on the capital’s roads than the traditional diesel models.
Latest figures from Transport for London reveal that 43% of London’s fleet of almost 15,000 black taxis are now LEVC TX zero-emission capable (ZEC) or electric, with 6,352 TXe and Dynamo taxis now licensed in the capital.
Taxi drivers are right to call for tariffs to rise
Taxi drivers are calling for tariffs to be increased as the cost-of-living crisis continues to put the squeeze on people’s finances.
For the past year, we have all battled with rising fuel and energy costs, which have helped push up inflation. For public hire, private hire drivers and others who earn their living on the road, there has been little choice but to take a hit at the pumps.
The future could be wireless for black cabs
Black cabs are charging their taxis wirelessly as part of a trial to bring more electric vehicles into the fleet and on to our roads.
One of the biggest obstacles to using EVs in the taxi fleet is range, with public hire and private hire drivers expressing concerns that the distance they can travel before having to recharge will prevent them operating efficiently.
Taxi drivers Remembrance Day support for veterans
Today is Armistice Day and as we prepare for Remembrance Sunday, taxi drivers are again helping war veterans remember fallen comrades by taking them to memorial ceremonies in London for free.
The tradition began in the capital 13 years ago with London black cab drivers volunteering their time to support the free Poppy Cabs Service.
How the Pandemic changed the Taxi Industry
The pandemic put the brakes on the taxi industry and many others as lockdown and social-distancing measures continued for almost two years.
We recently shared that more people are now getting back behind the wheel of a taxi or are starting out their career as taxi drivers. And, as numbers continue to climb, interesting trends and changes have occurred which could shape the future the taxi trade.
Thief jailed for stealing public hire taxi
It is great news that a stolen black cab has been returned to its taxi driver owner without a scratch on it, and the thief responsible has been locked up.
The incident happened last month in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, and fortunately, the illegal fare lasted just seven minutes as the speeding black-cab thief was caught by an elite roads policing unit.
Ride sharing’s impact on taxi drivers
Taxi drivers play an important role in our communities and for more than 100 years have been a convenient, reliable and safe way for people to get around.
Passengers would regularly use the same private hire taxi firms and knew where to hail a black cab if they arrived at a train or bus station or other public venue.
Journalist’s Rollercoaster white-knuckle ride in a driverless taxi
Some people see driverless taxis as the future, while to others, they are nothing more than a hi-tech gimmick. But ultimately, it is the passengers who will decide their fate as they have to feel safe and comfortable using the hi-tech taxi.
Whether or not the novelty wears off, there has been plenty of investment into autonomous vehicles and driverless taxis are currently being trialled in America.
Why have taxi insurance premiums gone up?
We are all feeling the pinch as the cost-of-living crisis makes things more expensive for everyone, so as taxi drivers continue to operate safely on the roads, they understandably want to know why their premiums are going up for their taxi insurance.
While a clean licence and claims-free motoring help keep taxi insurance premiums low, some of the factors that affect the price are beyond the control of drivers and insurers.
Taxi ages to be increased
The taxi industry has been severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic and taxi drivers are still counting the cost with rising fuel prices and the drive for greener vehicles.
This combination of factors means that many taxi drivers cannot afford to replace their vehicles in accordance with the terms of their license.
From horses and carts to a fleet of EV taxis
One of England’s oldest taxi businesses is steering its way towards an all-electric fleet of taxis.
Whiteside Taxis in St Annes on Sea started with Handsome Cabs in 1880 and has seen many changes in the years that followed. But, as with the transition from Handsome Cabs to the Hackney and private-hire taxis we are familiar with today, it did not happen overnight.