Cash awarded to taxi owners for retrofitting

MORE than £1 million has been awarded to taxi owners in Glasgow to help comply with new climate rules.

Around 100 taxis have now been successfully retrofitted with LPG engines. This is in preparation for Scotland’s Low Emission Zones (LEZs) which will be introduced by May next year.

The Scottish Government funding is to retrofit non-LEZ compliant vehicles with Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS) approved solutions, that meet the minimum proposed standards of the LEZs.

Grants of up to £10,000 are available to cover up to 80% of the cost of a retrofit solution.

Michael Matheson, cabinet secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, said: “LEZs are crucial to protecting public health by improving air quality.

“With every taxi trip potentially eliminating the need for another private vehicle entering the city centre – it’s clear to see why having LEZ compliant taxis is an important and valued part of the sustainable travel mix.

“Funding will again be available in April and I encourage any taxi driver who is interested to find out more about the support on offer.”

An LPG engine is cheaper to run for taxi drivers, provides a quieter and smoother experience for passengers and provides cleaner air with reduced carbon dioxide emissions.

Taxi owner Donald Wilson said: “My taxi was retrofitted in early January 2020 and since then, I have had no issues to date and my fuel costs have been reduced by an average of 20%.

“The running and smoothness of my taxi has been fantastic. Customer feedback is very positive, and I am frequently asked if I am driving an electric taxi.”