Trial for Woking taxi drivers as council looks at electric alternativeshttps://www.eagleradio.co.uk/news/local ... ernatives/Taxi drivers in Woking are to undergo a trial to see how much money they would save if they switched to an electric vehicle instead.The move would also be aimed at cutting down on air pollution in the area.
Around 15 per cent of Hackney Vehicles licensed with Woking Borough Council, around 25 cabbies, will be asked to take part in the experiment.
It will assess how many trips they could make with an e-taxi, where the most appropriate places for charging points would be and create business cases for the drivers to show how much money and fuel they will save.
Woking has engaged a company called Electric Blue to carry out the three-month trial to collect the data and evidence to then be assessed by officers from the council’s licensing department.
Called the Evolve Taxi Evaluation Project, it will involve a small device being fitted to the group of Hackney Vehicles taking part.
Information collected will include trip time and date, length plus locations as well as driver efficiency by recording harsh braking, accelerating and cornering.
The data will not identify the driver but will help map out where the council could put charging points based on areas mostly covered by the taxis.
A report entitled Electric Taxi Viability Project will be presented to members of the council’s licensing committee on Tuesday, January 22.
The report says: “Woking Borough Council wishes to move towards a more professional looking and environmentally friendly fleet of Hackney Vehicles.
"The Evolve evaluation programme delivered by Electric Blue will provide the information needed in order for the council to make an informed step towards this goal.”
A start date for the trial has not yet been set.
High pollution levels have been identified in Woking with two AQMAs (Air Quality Management Areas) being applied in the borough.
One at the junction at the top of Anchor Hill, declared in 2014, and the second for a section in Guildford Road declared in 2017.