Basingstoke borough council to fund low emission taxis

Taxi drivers in the borough can now apply for support to get the hackney carriages onto the streets of Basingstoke, in a decision that was made at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, March 5.

Licensed taxi drivers can now apply for a £5,000 grant to help pay for one of these electrically powered vehicles built by the London Electric Vehicle Company.

The modern, low-carbon and fully wheelchair accessible hackney carriages would make it easier for more people, including those with mobility issues, to travel sustainably in the borough.

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Cllr Laura and Cllr Chris Tomblin (Image: Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council)

During the meeting Cllr Laura James, cabinet member for residents’ services and housing, said the borough currently has an aging stock of taxis.

She said: "We really need to do something about it and we have always got a reducing number of Hackney Carriages as well so that is of concern."

Cllr James added: "The aging population of the drivers is of concern, set against very expensive taxis which are out of price for most people.

"These taxis are accessible and they are wheelchair accessible and this is essential that we have this service."

She also told members that there is a real interest with current taxi drivers to support the initiative.

The leader of the council, Cllr Paul Harvey said the idea is great and shows the council's ambitions and aspirations.

Cabinet member for the climate and ecological emergency Cllr Chris Tomblin told members it would save around 10 tonnes of carbon in the typical year use of a cab and would help make the borough a better place. 

Following the decision he said: “Many people rely on accessible taxis to get around. However, the diesel vehicles currently in the fleet are increasingly reaching the end of their lives and need replacing and barriers, like cost, are discouraging existing and new drivers from taking on more modern and sustainable models.

“Our new £5,000 grants, developed through conversations with licensed drivers, aim to help make these electrically powered hackney carriages more affordable to support taxi drivers to use these environmentally friendly and accessible vehicles.

“In offering this grant, we can help to remove old diesel vehicles off the roads and replace them with a more sustainable method of travel to support our target for a net zero carbon borough by 2030.

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“And along with emitting around 94 per cent less carbon than diesel taxis, these ultra-low emission vehicles could also help drivers save up to £150 a week on fuel too.”

With carbon emissions up to 94 per cent lower than diesel taxis, these vehicles would also help to improve air quality and reduce emissions in support of the council’s climate emergency declaration and target for a net zero carbon borough by 2030.

These hackney carriages have an electric-only range of up to 78 miles. The battery can be recharged by a small on-board petrol generator, which extends the range up to 333 miles when needed, or at an electric vehicle charging point.

This includes the 50-kilowatt ‘rapid’ electric vehicle charging point the council has already installed opposite the taxi rank at Basingstoke train station, which can recharge these electrically powered hackney carriages to 80 per cent in 25 minutes.

Taxi drivers can find out more at basingstoke.gov.uk/hackney-carriage-taxi.