Taxi Driver Online

Saw this a couple of weeks ago, but didn't post it then, but remembered about it when reading the other article about hybrids, and it's a slow news day.

Of course, the MG5 is the same motor that the driver in Eastbourne was having trouble with the other day (or at least, trouble getting it plated, rather than a problem with the actual vehicle).

And, of course, there's a huge dose of marketing/PR spiel here. I mean, what does the last paragraph about the firm's various phone numbers have to do with the environment



Blackpool's Premier Taxis adds five MG 5 EV estates to its fleet of more than 100 electric cabs

https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/busi ... bs-3111472

The Fylde coast’s greenest taxi company has just got even more environmentally-friendly with new fully-electric estate cars.


Image: Blackpool Gazette

Premier Taxis, based on Lytham Road in Blackpool, already operates one of the UK’s largest fleet of electric taxis and has now added five new MG 5 EVs to upgrade its range of hybrid-powered Toyota Auris estates.

The new MGs are capable of around 200-miles on a single charge and £125,000 was invested by the firm for them.

Steve Foster has worked for Premier for eight years and collected his MG last week, replacing a hybrid Toyota.

He said: “I have already been managing more than 200 miles on a single charge. I plug it in at home at 5pm and that will last me until the following day at 5pm.

“Our old Ford Mondeos cost £22 to get to Manchester Airport which dropped to £13 with the Toyotas. With the MG it will cost hardly anything for the same trip so they make great sense for a taxi driver.”

Managing director John Cutler describes the new estates as a ‘win-win-win’ for the firm, its drivers and its customers.

He said: “The public are going to travel in a mode of transport that is not adding to the pollution problems in the town and we have got a climate emergency situation in Blackpool, which was declared by the council.

“These cars are something that helps in that regard and we saved around 3600 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions last year and the taxi fleet travelled around five million miles.

Premier has a fleet of more than 100 electric vehicles, including vehicles such as Nissan Leafs and NV-200 vans.

The firm has previously been named the best in the country for its efforts to go green and in 2019 Premier was awarded private hire/taxi company of the year in the GreenFleet Awards.

For 2021, the company is now using the single contact number of (01253) 401000 across the whole of the Fylde coast but the other numbers will remain in service for the time being.

so a car that's on half or two thirds charge get's sent to Manchester Airport for a pick up...

Electrics are fine for local trips or quiet days but range is a limiting factor and fares are not exactly high in Blackpool as we have seen over the years competition is very keen. I wonder just how easily a living can be made in one of these ?

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Let's hope it has enough juice to get there and back.

Let's hope the driver has just started his shift and/or doesn't want to work anymore when he gets back.

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IDFIMH