Wireless charging for electric taxis waiting in their rank is to be trialled in Nottingham.

The government is putting £3.4m towards fitting five charging plates outside the city's railway station.

The six-month pilot project will see 10 electric taxis fitted with the necessary hardware and the scheme could be rolled out if successful.
Officials said electric vehicles were "vital" to improving city air quality and making charging convenient was key.

The Department for Transport said wireless charging was more convenient and avoided the clutter of cable charging points.

There was also the potential for the technology to be made available for public use, it added.
Andrea Leadsom, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, said: "Charging technology, including wireless, is vital in giving consumers confidence to make the switch from petrol to electric cars.

"This pioneering trial in Nottingham, and others like it, will help us take crucial steps towards lower emissions and cleaner air.

"We are determined to end our contribution to global warming entirely by 2050 - and delivering cleaner and greener transport systems is a key part of this".

Sally Longford, deputy leader at Nottingham City Council, said: "Nottingham is excited to host the trial of this new type of innovative charging technology, keeping us ahead of the pack, and helping to promote cleaner taxis in our city and potentially take us a further step forward towards our goal of being carbon neutral by 2028."
The vehicles will be owned by the council and provided rent-free to drivers.

No date has been fixed for the project to start, though the city council said it hoped it would be "later this year".

The council already runs a "try before you buy" scheme for electric taxis, alongside financial support for purchases.

A number of England's city's have announced plans to tackle vehicle emissions or the numbers of vehicles entering city centres.

London introduced an Ultra Low Emission Zone last year that sees higher-polluting vehicles charged up to £100 to drive through the centre, while Birmingham City Council revealed plans this week to stop cars from driving across the city centre.

Newcastle's councillors have backed plans for a clean air toll in the city centre, Bristol is set to ban diesel vehicles from some parts of the city, while York plans to ban all private cars from the medieval city centre by 2023.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-51140689

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LIVERPOOL

A taxi driver attacked a passenger with a wheel brace in an argument over a trip to a lap dancing club.

Black cab driver Joseph Jones took a fare from surveyor Alex Hewitt and his friends including Cumbrian police officers.

Jones, 36, claimed they asked to be taken to a strip joint , so he drove them to Rude Gentlemen's Club in Duke Street.

But when they arrived the group complained, insisting they had wanted to go to Concert Square , and refused to pay.

The dispute escalated when Mr Hewitt punched Jones, before the driver got out and broke his arm with the weapon.

Liverpool Crown Court heard the victim's group left Neighbourhood, in Castle Street, in the early hours of February 3 last year.

David Polglase, prosecuting, said the group, who had been drinking since 10pm, were asked to pay £20 for the journey.

However, when they got out they realised they had been taken to the strip club and Mr Hewitt challenged the driver.

A police officer from Kendal gave a statement, in which he said Jones insisted on taking them to a strip club , despite being told no.

Mr Polglase said CCTV footage showed the group outside Rude "where it may or may not be they were refused entry".

Mr Hewitt and other witnesses alleged Jones punched Mr Hewitt - who got out last - through his driver's window.

However, John Rowan, defending, said footage taken from two cameras did not support that account.

Mr Polglase accepted it was not possible to see Jones striking Mr Hewitt and it was no longer part of the prosecution case.

He said: "It appears Mr Hewitt is at the very least leaning in and does something that then causes this defendant to come out the driver's side of his taxi, pursue Mr Hewitt a short distance up the street and deliver blows to him using a wheel brace that was then recovered by the police."

Mr Hewitt was taken to Royal Liverpool Hospital with a fractured right arm, which required a plaster cast and sling.

He declined to make a victim statement.

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/strip-club-row-taxi-driver-17582049