Fully-electric taxi route to a greener city

An electric private hire car is now permanently operating on the streets of Canterbury.

Cab firm Longley’s, in Broad Oak Road, trialled the Nissan Leaf for five weeks earlier in the summer and has decided it wants to carry on using it.

The car produces no emissions and is being seen as an important first step in improving Canterbury’s air quality.

Green campaigner Terry Thompson is also working with Canterbury City Council on installing the first electric charge point in the city.

The aim is for it to go next to one of the pay points at the Holman’s Meadow car park, behind the cinema.

Mr Thompson, technical director of the Abbot’s Mill Project at St Radigund’s, hopes more electric vehicles become taxis.

“Switching taxis to being zeroemission will have a huge impact on Canterbury’s air quality,” he said. “We wish the project every success and hope it will act as a catalyst for others to consider electric vehicles to meet their transport needs.”

There are 600 taxis and private hire vehicles operating in Canterbury and Longley’s says it wants to explore ways of being cleaner in the future.

Director David George said: “We should all be looking at cleaner ways of running our businesses.

“In the early days of the trial, it was becoming obvious that investment needed to be made in infrastructure – specifically the access to fast-charging stations.

“Also, we have to consider where our electricity comes from – if the power is generated by burning fossil fuels, then we are just moving the problem rather than solving anything.

“Abbot’s Mill Project in particular are helping us to find renewable sources of clean energy.”

The car has a range of 155 miles before it requires a recharge.

Director David George with the city’s new electric taxi