Government announces £64m funding to boost to electric taxis
Thu 23 March 2017
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The Government has announced funding for a £50 million Plug-in Taxi Grant programme that will give taxi drivers up to £7,500 off the price of a new vehicle. The announcement was made as the London Taxi Company celebrated the opening of a new dedicated plug-in vehicle manufacturing facility near Coventry. (See
related story.)
There will also be £14 million of investment to deliver new chargepoints dedicated to electric taxis in 10 council areas.
Transport Minister John Hayes said: "This government is committed to improving air quality and reducing pollution in towns and cities, which is essential for people’s health and the environment.
"This is also great news for the economy as we invest in cutting edge technology and the next generation of transport and engineering professionals by creating thousands of new high-skilled jobs."
The £50 million PITG programme funding is part of the £290 million announced in the Autumn Statement to support electric vehicles, low emission buses and taxis, and alternative fuels.
The introduction of electric taxis could transform air quality in UK cities, especially in London, where there are around 23,000 diesel black cabs with a further 15,000 operating across the country.
The government says that taxi drivers who switch to the new electric cabs could save around £2,800 in fuel costs a year.
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