A ground-breaking initiative is underway in Birmingham that has seen the unlikely hero of the black cab take centre stage in a pioneering campaign to tackle urban air quality.

LPG as a fuel has long been recognised for being greener than both petrol and diesel and the Birmingham NOx Reduction Champions initiative will see more than 60 black cabs converted to run on cheaper, greener LPG by February 2017.

The Department for Transport Clean Technology fund has committed £500,000 to a partnership between Birmingham City Council and Autogas Limited-approved converter, Harborne Garage in Selly Oak. It is designed to significantly improve air quality in inner cities under the Government’s strategy to introduce Clean Air Zones and bring the country into line with emissions legislation.

A newly converted Euro 6 compliant TX4 black cab running on LPG emits 80% less NOx emissions compared with a normal diesel powered version, in addition to achieving significant reductions of particulate matter, known to be hazardous to health.

The new taxi engines are the result of an 18-month collaboration between the green fleet team at Birmingham City Council, co-ordinated by Autogas Limited, and engine manufacturer Kronenberg Management Systems (KMS) to develop the engine technology, along with European LPG taxi conversion kit experts Vogel and converters Harborne Garages in Birmingham.

Autogas Limited also funded rigorous testing in both the UK and Germany, based on Public Carriage Office (PCO) – Cenex London Taxi drive cycle to ensure that the new taxi engines delivered on emissions targets and would bring Birmingham’s taxis in line with Euro 6 low particulate and low NOx pollution levels.

The conversion team at Harborne Garages was trained to retrofit the new engines, with each conversion costing £8,000 and taking 2.5 days to complete.

Anne Shaw, assistant director for transportation at Birmingham City Council, said: “The fact our city has an ageing fleet of cabs means we need to look at how we can work with drivers to re-profile the vehicles serving customers in the city as their impact on air quality is significant.

“Through the funding the council has successfully unlocked from the Government, we’ve been able to play a part in forming links with technology providers and engineers to come up with part of the solution to one of the city’s major public health issues.”

Rob Shuttleworth, chief executive of UKLPG, the trade association for the liquefied petroleum gas industry comments: “The need to tackle urban air pollution is pressing and it is great to see this collaborative initiative, funded by the Clean Vehicle Technology Fund, working so effectively to achieve success in Birmingham.

“The value of LPG as a greener alternative to petrol and diesel has long been recognised in the UK and at around half the price of diesel, it delivers a rapid return on investment for each conversion. The replacement engine also significantly increases the life of the vehicle.”

Mr Shuttleworth added: “The pioneering programme is already attracting the attention of other cities trying to clean up pollution levels, with plans in place to train a national network of approved converters so that LPG taxis can be introduced around the country ahead of the Government’s 2020 deadline.

“With the refuelling infrastructure already in place and well-established, retrofitting hundreds of TX1, TX2 and TX4 diesel taxi cabs with LPG engines is a quick and cost-effective way to cut emissions.

“Dramatic improvements in air quality can also be achieved by reducing the large number of diesel small vans operating in our cities and promoting a mix of cleaner reliable fleets which include LPG and this is another route being explored by local authorities.”

http://www.airqualitynews.com/2016/12/15/viewpoint-taxi-drivers-champion-lpg-boost-air-quality/

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 LONDON

 The first wave of new minicab enforcement officers will hit the streets within days to crack down on illegal vehicles and protect the public from touts.

The 50 newly trained officers will target illegal activity such as touting and plying for hire, as well checking vehicles and drivers’ paperwork and advising the public on safe routes home.

They were recruited under plans by Sadiq Khan, who is quadrupling the size of the uniformed Transport for London team from 82, to enforce rigorous safety standards.

It comes as the number of minicabs on the capital’s streets soared by 28 per cent to 160,000 in the last ten years.

Since April TfL has stopped around 37,000 black taxis and minicabs to check drivers are carrying the correct ID and paperwork, and checking their vehicles for defects.

Mr Khan said: “Drivers who are unlicensed or flout the rules not only pose a risk to Londoners’ safety, but also undermine the work of the hard-working and professional drivers who provide a vital service to millions of Londoners every year. Every Londoner and visitor to our city must feel safe getting around London."

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/minicab-enforcers-to-hit-streets-of-london-within-days-a3419721.html

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 LONDON

 Taxi drivers are up in arms about proposals to stop them driving through Bank junction.

The City of London Corporation has proposed that taxis and other vehicles should be excluded from the junction between 7am and 7pm on weekdays. Buses and bicycles, however, would be allowed through.

Various committees of the City of London will meet in the coming weeks to vote on the scheme, and if it is approved, it could come into effect in April next year.

But taxi drivers are furious, with the United Cabbies Group planning a demo at Bank junction on 12 January.

http://bit.ly/2hC6a84

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 LIMERICK

 A father of three who was charged with robbing a taxi driver and threatening to kill him was granted bail, allowing him to rob another man at knifepoint.

Ger Ward (40) was jailed for six years at Limerick Circuit Court. Ward, of Glenma, Croom, pleaded guilty to threatening to kill or cause serious harm to taxi driver Chinidu Orji in Limerick on January 25, 2013.
Ward also pleaded guilty to robbing Mr Orji of €50 in cab fares, and stealing two mobile phones. He also admitted possessing an iron bar during the robbery.

On the night, Ward asked the taxi driver to drive him home from Limerick city.
Mr Orji told gardaí Ward "seemed friendly" at first, but suddenly turned on him.

Ward told him he had a knife and demanded cash and that he would kill him if he looked at his face. Ward ordered him out of the car and told him he was going to rape his wife and kids, the court heard.
Ward held a knife to a man's stomach during an attempted robbery while he was on bail to the first offence.

Judge Tom O'Donnell jailed Ward for four years for robbing and threatening Mr Orji.
He imposed a consecutive three-year sentence for the attempted robbery charge, suspending the final 12 months, provided Ward not reoffend for the next six years.

http://bit.ly/2hAQ5Ss