Helping taxi drivers find the right EV

Today is Word EV Day and it’s the perfect opportunity to help taxi drivers get on the road to a greener future.

While choosing the right vehicle for your taxi business is a big decision and there is uncertainty about cost, range and charging points, the aim of World EV Day is to encourage people, including professionals such as taxi drivers, to make their next vehicle an EV. It is not asking for a deposit or a deadline, but a commitment that you will be thinking greener when you choose your next car.

The call comes as the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles will be banned in the UK from 2030 and hybrids from 2035. People are understandably concerned about being able to afford an EV and want to make sure it does what their current petrol or diesel car can do before making the switch.

Much has been said about cheaper running and maintenance costs, as well as zero road tax and no charges for clean air zones or congestion areas. The initial cost of buying an EV is currently more than petrol or diesel vehicles, but prices are constantly coming down as more EVs enter the market and technology improves.

But for taxi drivers – both those with private hire insurance and public hire insurance – their new EV will have to do at least what their current petrol or diesel cab does now and, ideally, more.

One EV that is becoming more popular with taxi drivers and is available through Patons is the award-winning MG5 EV Long Range estate, which has helped drivers carry on and improve their business after making the switch from their petrol and diesel vehicles.

It is hugely popular with the taxi fleet because it has plenty of room for passengers and luggage. It offers a combined range of 250 miles, but for taxi drivers who spend most of their time in busy towns and cities, the estimated range is 344 miles.

As technology continues to improve both in terms of battery capacity and life, as well as the charging network, EV taxis will be able to get passengers where they want to go without the hassle or delay of lengthy stops to recharge.

We have recently mentioned the range of different schemes and technologies that will hugely improve the UK’s EV network so that we reach a situation where taxi drivers are no more concerned about reaching their destination than they would be in their current petrol or diesel cab.

Whether it is wireless charges built into the roads and taxi ranks, or a network of ultra-fast charging stations, the infrastructure will be in place to ensure taxi drivers can take passengers wherever they want to go, safely and promptly.

For us, the goal of this year’s World EV Day is for taxi drivers to find out exactly what an EV would mean for their business. Please don’t be put off by alarming news headlines. As you would when buying a petrol or diesel cab, find out what works for you. Starting by working out the range and capacity of the vehicle, then look at the options available, both in terms of the price, as well as charging.

If you have off-road parking, having a charger installed at home might be the cheaper and more convenient option in the long run. If that is not an option – as you would do now with petrol stations – you will need to find the nearest charging point that suits your needs.

As 2030 approaches, our focus needs to shift towards greener motoring and the World ED Day movement is continuing to ask businesses across the UK and across the world how they will #DriveChange to support the shift to emobility.

It is asking people to commit to cleaner air, lower emissions, and a more sustainable future and sign its pledge to make your next car or business fleet electric.