Cabbies for the Climate
This week, char.gy spoke with Steve Kenton, a seasoned cabbie with over thirty years of experience, 31 of which were behind the wheel of a diesel. Three years ago, he made the switch to an electric vehicle, and despite living in The North East of England, he still works in London, ferrying us Londoners around the (to my Knowledge) 25,000 winding streets...
Steve has become a vocal advocate for Cabbies for the Climate, sharing his knowledge with other cabbies to help them make the transition to EVs. Backed by the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA) and climate charity Possible, the initiative aims to accelerate the transition of London’s iconic taxi fleet to electric vehicles.
Can you tell me about the transition you made to electric and what made you make the move?
The Mayor’s initiative to clean London’s air meant I had to switch from diesel eventually. I felt that when the rollout of EVs became more apparent, we would start losing financial incentives. The more EVs get rolled out, the more likely the government would want to remove those incentives. So really, it wasn’t originally a climate decision, more of a pragmatic, financial decision.
Don’t get me wrong, diesel cars were great workhorses, but once I started driving an EV, I started to feel the benefits, not coughing my lungs up or smelling of diesel. This was the problem, if you’re sitting on top of a diesel engine all day, you’ve got no option other than breathing in the fumes.
Considering the current incentives offered to London EV cabbies, such as exemptions from congestion and ULEZ charges, what would be the potential consequences for the taxi industry if these exemptions were removed?
As taxi drivers, we are governed by compulsion. These regulations, outlined in the Hackney Carriage Act, often limit our ability to refuse service. If the government were to remove the current exemptions from congestion and ULEZ charges for electric taxis, it would create a direct conflict with these regulations. This is because these charges would significantly increase the operational costs for drivers, potentially forcing us to refuse rides in certain areas to remain profitable. This would directly contradict our job which is to provide a public service.
What sort of financial support could the government offer to taxi drivers?
Currently, taxi drivers receive a £6,000 grant towards the purchase of the new LEVC TX electric taxi. An effective incentive would be to remove VAT from the cost of these vehicles. The LEVC TX is a purpose-built vehicle specifically designed for the taxi industry, including crucial features like wheelchair accessibility that benefit the entire community, particularly those with disabilities.
- Here at char.gy, we share the vision of making EVs accessible to everyone. This commitment extends beyond the vehicles themselves. That's why we ensure our charging points are accessible to wheelchair users, removing another barrier to electric vehicle adoption for people with disabilities.
Steve: “It’s a really great initiative from char.gy. All chargers should be disabled-friendly.”
What type of charging do you rely on?
I rely on public charging, as I don’t have a driveway. Public charging is great as it allows me to charge on the go, but it comes with it's problems. Firstly, there are not enough chargers. As people switch to EVs, we need CPs. People can be hooked onto CPs for anywhere between an hour to 10 hours. I generally have to use rapid chargers, which take 45 minutes to get me up to 90% charge. This lasts me around 6.5 hours / 52 miles.
The second problem is cost. I rely on rapid chargers as I don’t live near a standard charger, so it costs around 67p/kWh.
Have you used char.gy’s overnight tariff?
No, I don’t have a facility to charge overnight as I don’t live near a char.gy CP.
- Compared to the 67p/kWh Steve currently pays, once we have rolled out our network, he could utilise our 39p/kWh night tariff, which would make driving an EV even more economical.
Do you think London cabbies who don’t have a driveway are put off by making the transition?
It has been discussed in our group that there aren’t enough public chargers, which isn’t helped by private hire drivers who are increasingly utilising charging points designated specifically for London taxis. However, this isn’t the primary reason why some cab drivers aren’t making the transition to electric.
The high upfront cost of electric taxis, exceeding £70,000 for new drivers, presents a significant barrier to adoption. This is why removing VAT from these vehicles is crucial. It is what is stopping many people from transitioning.
What would you say to a London cabbie who still drives an ICE vehicle?
Before transitioning, I recommend a thorough test drive of the electric vehicle for a few weeks to assess its reliability, comfort, and overall performance.
In my experience, my diesel vehicle experienced 4-5 breakdowns per year. In contrast, over 3 years and 2 months with my electric taxi, I've not had one visit from the AA.
The driving experience is significantly different – it feels lighter, and the vehicle performs more smoothly. Most importantly, I've noticed improvements in my own health, with better breathing and better quality of life.
And you know, those charging stops actually give me a chance to reset. It's better for me and helps me do my job better in the long run. As before, I’d do a 12-hour shift without once getting out of the driver’s seat.
Finally, I recommend ignoring the negativity on social media. The benefits of driving an electric taxi far outweigh any perceived downsides in a working environment.