London taxis to be emission free by 201817 January 2014

Transport for London (TfL) is planning to introduce requirements to make all London taxis zero emission-capable from January 2018.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson, made the announcement at an event yesterday (16 January 2014), where five taxi manufacturers – Frazer-Nash, Nissan, Karsan, London Taxi Company and Mercedes – demonstrated their vehicles.

The new zero emission-capable taxis being developed include both plug-in series hybrid vehicles and full electric models.

They will have to operate in emission-free mode when they are in areas of poor air quality.

TfL said last year that it will introduce an Ultra Low Emission Zone in central London by 2020.

The Mayor and TfL are working with the Office of Low Emission Vehicles and the Green Investment Bank on supporting measures to help the transition.

"The manufacturers at this event today are clearly well advanced in delivering the next generation of green taxi," said Garrett Emmerson, TfL's surface transport chief operating officer.

"We believe these vehicles will be available well in advance of the challenging deadline set today by the Mayor," he onctinued.

"We are also working with the wider industry and the Green Investment Bank to provide assistance to cab drivers who want to be among the first to get behind the wheel of these cutting edge vehicles that will significantly contribute to improving air quality in the capital as well as delivering benefits to cabbies themselves, in terms of reduced running costs."

The capital currently has 1,400 charging points and plans are in place to increase this number to 6,000 by 2018, with targeted services for taxi drivers.

The zero emission taxi proposal will be subject to public consultation later this year, when drivers, manufacturers and the public will be asked to submit their views.

Author
Laura Cork

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