COVENTRY City Council is trialling an electric taxi as part of moving its vehicle fleet towards becoming carbon neutral.
It is part of the authority’s ‘Electric Fleet First’ project and the iconic Coventry based LEVC Taxi and the 100 per cent Zero Emission Nissan Dynamo are both being offered for trial.
This week councillors Patricia Hetherton and Jim O’Boyle visited Whitley Depot to see the electric vehicles for themselves.
Coun O’Boyle, the Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the taxi trade to experience all the benefits that electric vehicles have to offer.
“The electric fleet first trial is about giving local businesses the opportunity to understand more about the long-term benefits of switching to an electric vehicle for their business.”
The Nissan Leaf will be part of the trial so that the private hire trade can also try-out electric vehicles for themselves.
Coun O’Boyle added: “With the national lockdowns affecting our trade across the city we want to support our drivers and provide as much incentive as possible to take part in the green movement.”
The trial is free and there will be no charges for hire or for insurance, the only cost will be when customers are charging the vehicle during the trial period.
Coun Hetherton, who is Cabinet Member for City Services, said: “I’m delighted that the Council is operating this scheme.
“We are already increasing our own council fleet of electric bin lorries and other vehicles and we want to show local businesses what can be achieved when we adapt to future sustainable transport.
“We have nine fleet vehicles available for taxi drivers and a further 70 vans and cars for businesses so I’d also encourage local businesses to get in touch.
“We would like to express our thanks to Highways England for funding this project.
“Our taxi trade can help make Coventry greener by lowering carbon emissions across the city.”
The Electric Fleet First is a try-before-you-buy scheme allows people to try out a vehicle for up to two months.
For more on the scheme, click here.
