‘COST WILL GO THROUGH THE ROOF’
Cabbies hit out at policy urging them to buy electric vehicles
TAXI drivers have slammed a proposed new policy which will see cabbies ‘encouraged’ to buy electric cars.
Newcastle Borough Council’s draft taxi licensing policy for 2019/21 is encouraging private hire drivers to make the switch by allowing electric vehicles to be licensed up to 10 years old, compared to the seven-year maximum age for petrol and diesel cabs.
And new hackney carriage applicants must buy a ‘purpose-built hackney carriage’ with wheelchair access, or an electric vehicle which is less than three years old.
But cabbies say electric cars are currently too expensive and there are not enough charging points in the borough. Newcastle Hackney Carriage Association raised its latest concerns during a meeting at Keele Cemetery. Association secretary Murtaza Alam said: “We have a lot of concerns over this suggested taxi policy. It will badly affect the taxi trade and result in a lot of extra financial burden on drivers and business.” Association chairman Tariq Mehmood said: “If this goes through, then it will put the price of a taxi through the roof.
“The council is encouraging us to change from diesel vehicles to electric, but there are not enough charging points.
“The cheapest electric car on the market costs around £26,000, and an electric black cab is almost £56,000.
“The cheapest electric car has a range of 168 miles per charge – and an electric car takes around two hours to charge which would really cut into an eight-hour shift.
“If this goes through, it will cost a new driver at least £30,000, including insurance, before they even start.”
The council is currently running a 12-week consultation on the policy.
The council document states: “The council encourages and promotes the purchase of fully electric or hybrid vehicles to be licensed as private hire vehicles.
“Where possible, the council will seek to implement a number of ‘plug-in’ points around the district which will be available for vehicle proprietors to use and also to actively target funding opportunities.”
There are currently five ‘rapid’ and two ‘fast’ chargers in Newcastle borough – with four of them at Keele Services. A ‘rapid’ charger can charge a vehicle in 20 to 40 minutes.
Councillor Stephen Sweeney, left, cabinet member for finance and efficiency, says drivers and firms will still be allowed to use cars with diesel or petrol engines.
He said: “The council has met with the taxi trade during the 12-week consultation and offered to organise a demonstration of an electric car, which was declined.
“I must stress that the use of electric vehicles as private hire vehicles and hackney carriages is a proposed new option in the draft policy – drivers and companies can continue to use cars with petrol and diesel engines. Electric cars would be licensed for longer to help with purchase costs.”