Apply for a grant towards an electrically powered Hackney Carriage

To help get new easily-accessible and ultra-low emission hackney carriages on to the streets of the borough, local licensed taxi drivers can apply for £5,000 grants 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.

And with carbon emissions up to 94% 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% in 25 minutes.

Licensed taxi drivers can find more information about the electrically powered hackney carriages on the London Electric Vehicle Company’s website and apply for a grant by emailing the council’s Licensing Team at licensing@basingstoke.gov.uk.