David Harris, from Chingford, has been a black cab driver for 21 years and was one of the first to put down a deposit for the new electric taxi when order books opened back in the summer of 2017.
The new LEVC TX is the world’s cleanest, most advanced taxi ever, offering zero emissions motoring thanks to eCity technology comprising of an advanced battery electric powertrain with a small back-up petrol generator that gives a total range of up to 400 miles including 80 miles pure electric driving.
Harris, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to get the keys to my new TX electric taxi and there are two reasons I bought the cab. First, I can't wait to see the response from passengers, I know that they're going to love it. And second, I'm going to see some a significant savings on running the electric taxi. Even though I can't charge the vehicle at home, I should be able to charge the cab once a day at Heathrow. Combined with lower servicing and overall running costs, this means I should end up £500-£600 a month better off before I even go out to work."
He can’t charge his TX at home as he doesn’t have off-street parking but says he’ll incorporate a top-up charge into his daily visit to Heathrow, as the airport features a number of dedicated rapid chargers for electric taxis.
The new vehicle features a multi-filter system which works to remove gases and particles from the incoming air. In addition, an in-built air quality sensor also automatically closes the external air intake if it detects increased levels of pollution in the outside air – protecting passengers, and the driver, from the capital’s often poor-quality air.
Active and passive safety systems will help to protect both the vehicle and other road users too. These include forward collision warnings, autonomous emergency breaking and emergency brake assistance.
http://bit.ly/2n95xXl
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LONDON PH TO PAY CONGESTION CHARGE ? ? ?
A proposal from Transport for London (TfL) to re-open a consultation regarding whether private hire vehicles should be required to pay the congestion charge was slammed by the GMB union.
The union has warned that if private hire companies will be required to pay the said charge, firms will be prompted to leave London. The plans of the TfL first came to light in October of 2017.
GMB has argued that the taxi services of London should be exempted since they are a form of public transport.
The GMB regional officer, Steve Garelick, stated: “Mayor Ken Livingstone brought in the exemption for private hire based on the widely-held view that this was a public transportation medium.
“A charge would primarily affect drivers who in effect would face a further tax on their incomes…This plan that is claimed to be another ‘consultation’ will cause more damage to traffic and emission levels. It will also force private hire companies out of London costing jobs.”
The general manager of road user charging at TfL, Paul Cowperthwaite, stated: “We are currently undertaking further analysis on the impact of removing the exemption from the congestion charge for private hire vehicles.
“Depending on the outcome of this work, a consultation could follow later this year.”
Ride-hailing company Uber has resulted in a massive drop in the use of night buses, with the use on some of its routes dropping by as much as 20 percent. The plans from TfL come as the future of Uber remains under threat in the capital, after its licence to operate was revoked.
https://news.finance.co.uk/tfls-plan-impose-congestion-charge-private-hire-taxis-slammed-gmb-union/
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NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — An accessible taxi dispatch program is expanding citywide, giving those with disabilities greater access to wheelchair-accessible taxis.
As WCBS 880’s Marla Diamond reported, Jean Ryan said finding a wheelchair-accessible taxi in her Bay Ridge, Brooklyn neighborhood is like an Elvis sighting.
“You just could not get one,” she said. “I mean, who sees a yellow cab or an accessible green cab in the neighborhood that they know they could take at a certain time?”
Ryan calls the expansion of the accessible dispatch program a game changer. During the pilot phase of the program, Taxi and Limousine Commissioner Meera Joshi says wait times have gone down – even for the disabled – in remote areas of the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Staten Island.
The challenge now is expanding the number of cabs that could accommodate a wheelchair.
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2018/01/24/wheelchair-accessible-taxis/
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DONINGTON PARK
An unlicensed taxi driver has been fined after he illegally tried to pick up council officers at the Download Festival last year.
Chinman Singh approached officers from North-West Leicestershire District Council outside the main entrance to the festival held at Donington Park on Sunday, June 11, last year.
Although Singh has worked as a taxi driver in Nottingham for more than 20 years, he is not licensed to work in North West Leicestershire, rendering his insurance void, a court heard.
The 39-year-old, of Gunnersbury Way, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to not being licensed in the district and plying for hire at Leicestershire Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, January 10.
In mitigation, Singh explained that he had been a taxi driver for more than 20 years and had demonstrated good behaviour throughout his time. He also stated that he had a job booked and presumed the officers were the people he was supposed to be picking up.
Councillor Alison Smith said: "Driving without having the correct licence, and therefore without insurance, is a serious offence when committed by any motorist. For a taxi driver it is even more unacceptable and puts the welfare of passengers and other drivers on the road at serious risk.
"Keeping the public safe is a priority for the district council and this case shows how seriously we take this."
Singh was given six penalty points on his driving licence, handed a £250 fine and was ordered to pay £100 in costs and a £30 victim surcharge.
https://www.burtonmail.co.uk/news/local-news/unlicensed-taxi-driver-fined-after-1068775
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