TaxiPoint September 2021 Edition 29 by TaxiPoint

The UK’s #1 Taxi News Over 1.5

Edition 29 | SEPTEMBER 2021

million magazine reads in the last year

Image credit: CLIVE SUTTON

‘LOCAL CAB’ OPERATORS SHARE EXPERIENCES THE 2010 VW TAXI CONCEPT | NEW MOBILIZE EV WHAT SHOULD I DO IF HIT BY AN E-SCOOTER?

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EDITORIAL

AND COUNTING... We’re proud at TaxiPoint of our industry leading news website but we don’t often shout about our monthly TaxiPoint Digital Magazine and give it the credit it also deserves. Over a 12 month period, TaxiPoint Magazine has had over 1.5 million reads and also impressed on potential and targeted readers a whopping 6.7 million times. We’re delighted that it’s read the worldover and there’s not many countries left that we haven’t been read in. Thank you for your continued support and please subscribe for free to our email service if you haven’t already. With your help we can connect the UK taxi industry.

TaxiPoint Chief Editor: Perry Richardson TaxiPoint Editor: Michael Murphy TaxiPoint Publishing & Advertising Manager: Lindsey Richardson Visit us online at: www.taxi-point.co.uk Write to us at: contact@taxi-point.co.uk Advertising enquiries at: advertising@taxi-point.co.uk The publishers reserve the right to refuse, withdraw, amend or otherwise deal with all advertisements without explanation. All advertisers must comply with the British Code of Advertising practice. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. All written and image rights are reserved by the author as displayed. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Copyright brand TaxiPoint 2021. Creative Common image licenses displayed where applicable.

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LOCAL CAB

‘Local Cab’, Uber’s new product which enables passengers to book a trip with a local cab company via the Uber app, has divided taxi and private hire industry opinion since it first went live earlier this year. The Local Cab option uses Autocab’s iGo network which has been integrated onto the Uber platform for the first time since the two firms controversially reached an acquisition agreement in August 2020. In a bid to understand more about Local Cab, we caught up with three operators using the functionality. First we asked the obvious question - what made them take the plunge and join Local Cab? Amir Khan, General Manager of 001 Taxis Oxford, said: “With Local Cab, we saw an opportunity in Oxford to fulfil more bookings and pass more work through to our drivers. Before Local Cab launched in Oxford, every month the Uber app was opened almost 65,000 times in the city.

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LOCAL CAB “Tourists were getting off trains and clicking on the Uber app as their go-to option, but not being able to find a ride. When they would search for a local cab on Google as an alternative, they weren’t always sure which operator was reliable from the list that appeared. And they didn’t necessarily choose us either.

The first operator, Need-a-Cab went live in May. Despite being operational for only a few months, we asked if any of the operators involved have seen any short-term benefits since joining up with Uber and what their long-term hopes for the partnership are.

David McIntosh, Director of Need-a -Cab Taxis in Plymouth, joined the Local Cab scheme after assurances from Uber. McIntosh said: “Our decision to get involved with the Local Cab pilot was made following assurances from Uber that it would not be using its ownership of Autocab to harvest driver data. The terms we agreed upon in our contract were also straightforward to understand.

“We’ve even had drivers from other operators walk into the office, saying they’ve heard we’re working with Uber and that they want the opportunity to take on some of this work.

001 Taxis say they have already seen “By working with Uber, we’re giving our benefits with bookings via Local Cab in drivers a better chance of obtaining their thousands. Khan said: “The day we these trips.” went live with Local Cab, we launched 15 minutes earlier than planned and started For Bedford based Key Cars, it was the to see bookings coming through straight challenging year bought on by the away. Local Cab bookings are now in the pandemic that persuaded them to try the new product. Amna Sadiqa from Key thousands and increasing weekly. Cars said: “Like many other operators, “Our drivers were really excited about we have experienced a challenging year the prospect of Local Cab, which is why due to the pandemic and were ready to so many have started to come back to welcome any new initiative that would work in the past month or two, for the help us to generate more business.” first time since the pandemic began.

“The kudos of being the first company globally to launch this new booking platform was an added bonus, and we are so excited about what the future holds for Local Cab in Plymouth.”

“Long-term we expect to see the number of bookings grow – particularly as people are still travelling less at the moment. Once the university students return, we expect things will pick up even more.”

It was a similar story in Plymouth where Need-a-Cab have also reported increasing work levels. McIntosh said: “The main short-term benefit for our company is that people using the Uber app can now book a Need-A-Cab taxi or private hire vehicle in Plymouth. “For the long-term, we are seeing job numbers increasing week on week and

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Charity

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May 2019 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 20

LOCAL CAB we are confident that we will continue to see an “Our long-term hopes are mainly to recruit more increase in the jobs we accept from passengers using drivers, which we know will increase the number of the Uber app alongside our everyday work.” bookings we receive through Uber as these only In Bedford, Key Cars plan to recruit more drivers in a come through if there is availability of vehicles. In bid to service Uber’s customer demand and expand fact, we have already recruited a number of new its coverage in the area. Sadiqa said: “We've seen an drivers since launching with Local Cab.” increase in jobs thanks to Local Cab. Some of the bookings are helping us to fill quieter spells for our drivers, which is always a bonus.

“As we know, the name 'Uber' speaks volumes in our industry. Their riders trust the service they receive and will book with them regardless of price. So they know that when they make a booking with a local operator through Local Cab, Uber would've partnered with suitable and reliable local operators to offer a great service.

But what about the concerns that are still rippling through the industry? Do any of the early operators who switched to Local Cab have any remaining worries? Are others in the taxi and private hire industry right to show concern? Khan said: “Like any taxi or private hire company in the industry, we had some apprehensions about working with Uber. In particular, we were concerned about losing some of our core customer base and that they would simply be recycled back to Uber. But these worries disappeared once we spoke to Autocab and Uber about the details of Local Cab.

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LOCAL CAB “For those concerned, whether drivers or other operators, I would say that there is a huge opportunity available with Local Cab. It is going to help your business grow and give you access to customers that you didn’t have before.”

local app. They have Uber which they can now use across Bedford. There are always new firms starting up in cities and towns – we don't see how this is different.”

“Any local customers using local taxi firm apps don't really switch to Uber. Others in the taxi and private hire industry shouldn't be concerned about this because ultimately it is only fair for the rider to choose how they would like to book a taxi and with whom.

the best and will only serve to benefit the industry over time.”

Finally in Plymouth where the Local Cab roll out There were few concerns for Bedford’s Key Cars began, McIntosh said: “All of our fears were either. Sadiqa said: “We aren’t concerned because alleviated at a very early stage, so we don't envisage we know the riders who come to Bedford from other any problems as our relationship with Uber grows. areas will already have the Uber app downloaded “Operators will always have concerns about Uber and will have been using it on their travels and their primary business model, but I believe that elsewhere. this new way of working, alongside operators, is for

As more local operators join the Local Cab platform there will be more questions asked. Only time will tell whether the Local Cab leaves a positive or negative impact on the UK taxi and private hire “There are customers who prefer to book via an app industry. but don't live locally and don't want to download a

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TAXI VEHICLE Image credit: Clive Sutton

The bespoke coachbuilding division of luxury car specialist Clive Sutton has revealed the pricing, full specification and new customisation options for its production range of VIP LEVC Taxis. The driver and passenger compartments of the LEVC taxi have been completely overhauled by the Sutton Bespoke team. Customers can opt for a plethora of luxury fittings from leather-clad, electronicallyreclining heated rear seats with footrests, to a fibreoptic starlight roof, or electronic self-closing doors.

discreet, unique, customisable luxury. Our Sutton VIP LEVC Taxi enables the most comfortable, spacious and private journey through the city with extravagant features usually reserved for superyachts and private jets.”

The production version of the iconic London black cab The Sutton Bespoke team has revealed multiple made its public debut at the Blenheim Palace-based configurations in which the taxi can be ordered. ‘Salon Privé’ concours event in Image credit: Clive Sutton Oxfordshire. Showgoers explored the £121,480 show car featuring two-tone paintwork, built-in umbrella holders and a high-quality audio system. New Sutton VIP LEVC Taxi prices start from £104,680 on the road. Clive Sutton, Founder and CEO, said: “While many of our clients seek power, performance and stand -out style, another portion prefer

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TAXI VEHICLE Image credit: Clive Sutton

Customers can choose from a four, three, or even an ultra-spacious two-seat set-up with a drinks fridge, on-board WiFi and Bluetooth as standard. Privacy can be upgraded as part of an optional exterior package that includes smoke-tinted rear windows, while those after more entertainment can specify a PlayStation or Xbox. The console is connected to a 20-inch media screen that is incorporated within a leather-clad divider, which separates the front and rear compartments. Colour choices are almost limitless, enabling owners to stay discreet or to create something truly unique. Distinguishing the Sutton taxi from their ordinary siblings goes well beyond colour, trim and technology, with thick-pile carpet, an ambient lighting system, and hand-crafted wood veneers taking the vehicle to new levels of opulence.

Image credit: Clive Sutton

SEPTEMBER 2021Image - Edition 29Sutton credit: Clive

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TAXI VEHICLE CONCEPT

Image credit: VW

Over a decade ago there were several concept taxis produced with one eye on modernising and electrifying a British institutional fleet vehicle. There was famously the electric Metrocab which sadly never made it to market, the Karsan concept black cab and then also a little-known Volkswagen Taxi Concept. The black cab which was showcased in the capital’s financial district back in 2010 was a Volkswagen taxi based on the forthcoming UP! city car. Klaus Bischoff, Head of Design at Volkswagen at the time, designed the vehicle to meet the growing challenges faced by vehicles in modern cities which included tighter restrictions on space and emissions.

Image credit: VW

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TAXI VEHICLE CONCEPT The Volkswagen Taxi Concept was powered by an electric motor fed by lithium-ion batteries. With a capacity of 45 kW/h the batteries allowed the electric motor to generate a maximum power output of 115 PS, translating to a theoretical top speed of 74 mph. The range of the Volkswagen Taxi Concept was estimated to be an impressive 186 miles between charges with an 80 per cent charge taking around one hour to complete. The vehicle measured 3,730 mm in length, 1,680 mm in width and 1,600 mm in height and was shorter than its current smallest Volkswagen on the market, the Fox. With room for just two adults to be seated plus an allocated area for luggage, the taxi would have always struggled to meet existing licensing requirements, but the concept was more about what could be achieved moving forwards.

Image credit: VW

display mounted next to the driver. Fast forward a decade and minus the meter, these touches are now prevalent in modern day taxis. Intriguingly the daytime running lights mounted within the headlight units were joined by a distinctive ‘Taxi’ light on the roof. Gone went the orange light, and in came a unit with two settings – it glowed green, indicating when it was free and red when it was not.

The theme running throughout the concept was simplicity. The concept delivered an elegant, clutterfree look to the interior, with the major functions of the vehicle including climate, entertainment and even At the rear, the light units were integrated into the 60:40 split tailgate, behind which were a pair of the taxi meter all grouped onto one touchscreen cubbies to house the belongings of the driver.

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Image credit: VW

NEW VEHICLES

Image credit: MOBILIZE

Mobilize has unveiled Limo, a fully-electric four door saloon, specifically for taxi/PHV drivers and fleet. Available solely on subscription, the offer will include packages and à la carte mobility solutions.

response of our new brand to the evolution of the ride-hailing market. This offer, which combines a vehicle and flexible services, fully illustrates Mobilize's ability to accompany users in their new Mobilize Limo has materialised as part of needs. It also demonstrates a unique know-how resulting from the experience the joint venture created by Renault Group and Jiangling Motors Group Co., Ltd of the Renault Group in mobility services and RCI Bank and Services’ strength in (JMCG) in 2018. financing.” This latest model will be unveiled for the Mobilize Limo will target taxi and private very first time at Munich IAA Mobility 2021, at the Renault stand, as part of the hire drivers looking for emission-free vehicles that are ‘prestigious and cheap to special day dedicated to Mobilize on 8 run’. With a battery that offers around September. A fleet of 40 Mobilize Limo will then be deployed throughout Europe 450 km (280 miles) between charges (pending WLTP certification) and a driving starting in the second half of 2022. experience that is said to be silent, Clotilde Delbos, CEO of Mobilize, said: smooth, and vibration-free, Mobilize hope “The first Mobilize model, Limo, is the

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NEW VEHICLES Image credit: MOBILIZE

the vehicle will alleviate any concerns drivers and fleet managers may have when it comes to shifting to electric vehicles. Mobilize Limo will be marketed as a joint offer combining both the vehicle and services for all sorts of drivers including taxis, PHVs, and other private transport services. Mobilize's offer will include a fully-fledged package of services with something for everyone whether they be full-time, part-time, or connectivity…) in order to optimize their Total Cost one-off drivers. These services will also be available of Operations (TCO) and operational excellence, at for other Renault Group’s electric vehicles. the service of customers. Managed by RCI Bank and Services, Mobilize rental Mobilize packages will also include various services agreements will include flexible mileage and such as manufacturer-backed warrantees, contract duration. Casual drivers will have access to maintenance, insurance, and charging solutions. a pay-as-you-drive solution. For fleet operators Such all-inclusive, competitive packages – with running taxi/PHV services, Mobilize will leverage its more details to follow – to give commercial network of start-up partner companies to offer a operators peace of mind. complete solution for their activity (fleet dispatching, payment, vehicle charging,

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Image credit: MOBILIZE

LEGAL OPINION

ELENA MANUKYAN E-SCOOTERS: WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I’M IN AN ACCIDENT WITH ONE? The use of electronic scooters, or escooters for short, is currently being trialled in major cities up and down the country. If you’ve recently visited cities such as Manchester, Nottingham, or Liverpool, then you’ve probably seen rows of e-scooters lined up ready for a rider to come along, download an app, rent a scooter and off they go zooming down a busy road without a care in the world, and without a safety helmet in sight. Of course, most e-scooter riders are considerate and cautious of cars and pedestrians, but accidents involving escooters are on the rise. In fact, according to research carried out by dashcam company Nextbase, electric scooters are predicted to be involved in up to 200,000 accidents this year, and more than a million people in the UK are expected to own one by the end of the year.

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LEGAL OPINION Whilst owning an e-scooter isn’t against the law, in fact you’ll now find them on sale in all major retailers from Argos to Halfords, riding an e-scooter on a public road is illegal (unless it is part of one of the trials mentioned above). There have been countless incidents of police seizing brand new escooters, and the riders being fined £300, and given up to 6 points on their driving licence for driving without insurance. As a car driver myself, e-scooters worry me a lot more than cyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians. Why? Because the riders are often young and inexperienced. In fact, for many it might be their first time riding an electric scooter on a busy city centre road.

helmet in sight, and there have been numerous reports of incidents where the riders have been intoxicated while riding an e-scooter in city centres. All these things are a recipe for disaster, and these disasters are the accidents that we have been reading and hearing about on the news of serious accidents involving e-scooters.

So, what should I do if I hit an e-scooter rider? The law is no different if you hit someone riding an e -scooter as it is for say a pedestrian or a cyclist. You must stop and exchange your details with the rider. It is important to get the following information from the rider:

• Some riders won’t know how to operate an escooter and how to comfortably slow down and stop • – it’s a bit like watching someone learn how to ride a • bike along a busy road – you just wouldn’t do it. Not to mention the fact that there’s often not a safety

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Their name Address Contact number

LEGAL OPINION •

•

involving e-scooters can be serious and as a witness you can play a key part in ensuring the safety of those involved by getting them the help they may need. If the Police attend, they may ask to speak with you and take a statement based on what you Pictures of the e-scooter, your vehicle witnessed. You can also choose to provide your (including any damage to both) and pictures of details to those involved in the accident themselves. the accident scene. A note of the scooter trial company *there are several companies operating across the UK, but the name should be easily seen on the side of the scooter

What next? You must report the accident to your insurance company, regardless of whether you wish to make a I believe e-scooters are here to stay, the data claim on your policy or not. collected from the trials will be analysed, and I believe that it is likely that privately owned electric What about if I’m not at fault? scooters will be made legal (with the relevant The above still applies – you will need to obtain as insurance and qualifications in place of course). Emuch information from the rider as possible scooters bring with them advantages such as being including the name of the e-scooter company as it is environmentally friendly, easily accessible to many, often that company that will provide insurance and they will hopefully play a role in reducing cover in the event of an accident. You can often congestion in our busy cities. contact the e-scooter company to obtain details of If you have been involved in an accident with an etheir insurance and submit a claim to them directly. scooter and you’re unsure about what to do or need However, if you are involved in an accident with a assistance, the writer of this article Elena Manukyan privately owned e-scooter then the situation may be from The Injury Solicitor, can be contacted for a free, a little trickier as these should not be used on public no obligation chat. roads and therefore the rider is unlikely to hold valid insurance in the event of an accident. In this case it is important to report the incident to the police and obtain a Crime Reference Number.

What should I do if I witness an e-scooter accident?

Article by Elena Manukyan. Elena is the

If you witness an accident involving an e-scooter and Founder, Director and Solicitor at The Injury you can help, especially if someone is injured, please Solicitor Ltd. She has 10 years of experience in call for an ambulance and possibility the Police if it pursuing personal injury claims for her clients. looks like their assistance is needed. Accidents

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E-SCOOTERS

E-SCOOTER With the craze to purchase privately owned escooters seemingly on the up, law enforcement have had to step in to ensure the safety of pedestrians, other road users and even the riders themselves, who in some cases are not even aware that such motorpowered modes of transportation are in fact illegal to ride on public roads.

Image credit: MOBILIZE

Law enforcement teams around the UK have spent the last month cracking down on the use of e-scooters, with hundreds of vehicles being seized and riders being reported for offences such as driving a motorised vehicle without insurance and the offence of driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. London’s Metropolitan Police have been one of the most active law enforcement teams, as the capital sees an increased use in escooters. In a single week, over 100 escooters were seized after a number of ‘Targeted Action Points’ were set up to intercept illegal riders. In that single week, vehicles were seized across the boroughs of Southwark, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Havering, Newham and Barking, as well as Hammersmith & Fulham. Purchasing and riding an e-scooter illegally can be a very costly blunder, as one fast-food delivery driver found out in Newcastle. The unnamed man made the purchase of a brand new top-of-the-range e-scooter for a

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E-SCOOTERS whopping £1,200 to make life easier for himself whilst out and about delivering food to hungry customers, only to have it seized a day later. The man was spotted by officers in the city centre and reported for driving with no insurance. The crackdown on e-scooters has highlighted some serious incidents. One that will hit home with any parent, was when a 3-year-old was left with lifechanging injuries after being hit by an e-scooter while playing in a London park. Although it’s believed that the e-scooter rider stopped to say sorry, no-one has been held accountable for the incident. And it hasn’t always been collisions which have had devastating consequences. At the beginning of August, a 56-year-old man died after falling from his e-scooter in Dyfed-Powys, Wales. No other vehicles were reported to be involved in the incident. Only a few weeks earlier, a 53-year-old man died after falling from an e-scooter in Twickenham, London.

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E-SCOOTERS Law enforcement are also having to deal with a number of reported incidents where people are not only riding around public roads illegally but they are also carrying passengers. Images circulating social media platforms have even shown a family of 4, including 2 small children travelling on one escooter. In one incident which occurred in London, a man was disqualified from driving for 17 months and fined £300 for driving a motorised vehicle while under the influence of alcohol after the passenger he was carrying needed surgery to an open fracture after a fall from the moving vehicle.

Image credit: @WYP_RPU

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One of the most bizarre e-scooter incidents we’ve witnessed was when a man was seen attempting to join 70mph motorway traffic in Bradford. Luckily for him and the other motorists, police were on hand to intercept the rider before a serious collision occurred. On this occasion the e-scooter was seized and the man was reported.

OPINION

Image credit: Tom the Taxi Driver (YouTube)

heart of London’s financial district.

A London cabbie has created an informative video highlighting the true financial cost to cabbies and passengers, passing through or around the controversial Bishopsgate ‘Streetspace’ network in the City of London. Tom Hutley, a London taxi driver and successful YouTuber with over 40,000 subscribers, posted his latest video showing why taxi drivers, and their passengers, are so frustrated with the banned access along a key part of the capital’s road network.

In the video Hutley runs two taxi journeys between London Bridge Station and Liverpool Street Station to compare prices. First the cabbie completes the journey with the controversial bus gate active between the hours of 7am-7pm which forced the taxi to divert east. On the second run, just after 7pm, the cabbie was able to reduce the cost of the ride by around 30% by driving a more direct route.

Cabbies are frustrated at a lack of access on Gracechurch Street and Bishopsgate found at the

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NEW PAYMENT TECHNOLOGY

NEW INNOVATIVE PAYMENT SOLUTIONS SERVICE SETS SIGHTS ON TAXI INDUSTRY

A new innovate payment solution which is marketed as perfect for the Taxi industry is readying itself for launch in the UK. Yotta Pay are offering cabbies a small device called the ‘Yotta Keyring’. The circular device is the world’s smallest portable payment terminal using only NFC technology, meaning no battery or WiFi is needed for use. Customers are required to just tap their phones onto the Yotta Keyring and drivers are paid instantly, with no third parties or apps delaying the payment.

Crucially the service is aiming to become one of the most affordable payment solutions on the UK market. Yotta Pay fees are set between 0.19%0.49%.

Alexey, Founder of Yotta Pay, said: “The taxi industry is one of the industries that suffered the most during the pandemic. Our “Yotta Keyring”, the The Yotta Keyring is controllable through the Yotta smallest portable payment terminal in the world, Pay app, which allows drivers to generate payments aims to help the industry bounce back by offering a new and easier way to take payments, whilst also onto the keyring, which customers just tap with their phones to pay. The Yotta Pay app also allows saving hundreds to thousands of pounds on fees per year. drivers to ask for tips from customers, before sending the customer an e-receipt and an e“It allows drivers to receive payments instantly, business card automatically following the payment. with no third party taking their cut, whilst also The firm also has Yotta Pay durable stickers that are automatically sending customers e-receipts and ebusiness cards. available upon request which can be stuck to the taxi window or seat to show customers that drivers accept the emerging form of payment. 26

“With the Yotta Keyring, we aim to put the needs of the taxi SEPTEMBER industry first.” 2021 -Image Edition 29 PAY credit: YOTTA

EV TECHNOLOGY

BETTER RANGE, FASTER CHARGING AND HYDROGEN FUEL INVESTMENT Electric car batteries with a range similar to internal combustion engines and which can charge in as little as 12 minutes are among projects awarded over £91 million of government and industry funding to develop the latest green automotive technology.

The projects awarded funding are:

Four projects have been awarded funding through the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) Collaborative Research and Development competition, which supports the development of innovative low carbon automotive technology. Together they could save almost 32 million tonnes of carbon emissions, equivalent to the lifetime emissions of 1.3 million cars, and secure over 2,700 jobs across the country.

Project CELERITAS, Birmingham - £9.7 million to create ultra-fast charging batteries for electric and fuel cell hybrid vehicles that can charge in as little as 12 minutes

These innovations will address motorists’ concerns about adopting electric vehicles by cutting charge times and boosting driving range. They will help to make electric vehicles more affordable, efficient and convenient.

REEcorner, Nuneaton - £41.2 million to radically redesign light and medium-sized commercial electric vehicles in Nuneaton by moving the steering, breaking, suspension and powertrain into the wheel arch enabling increased autonomous capability, storage space and design flexibility.

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BMW-UK-BEV, Oxford - £26.2 million to develop an electric battery that will rival the driving range of internal combustion engines, helping put concerns over how far electric vehicles can travel to rest

the BRUNEL project, Darlington - £14.6 million to develop a novel zero emission, hydrogen-fuelled engine to help decarbonise heavy goods vehicles

UK TAXI NEWS “He is a hackney carriage driver plying his trade. “He can choose at any time simply to pick up street fares. He can go down to the station and pick up passengers there, join a taxi rank or stop if somebody flags him down. “He chose to sign up with the Respondent. He chose initially to pay 10% to have access to the cash and credit card work. He chose later to pay 10% and a membership fee so as to have access to the account work as well. Having regard to the context of the way he works, I find that was in the nature of a business decision taken by him.”

A Muslim taxi driver from Leeds attempted to sue a local taxi firm after he was BANNED from wearing traditional South Asian clothing and told to wear 'smart western' clothing under its strict dress code.

The judge added: “He does not have any obligation to logon and do that work at any time. When he is logged on, he can press the flag down button and pick up a street fare at any time. He is essentially choosing between different available sources of work throughout his working time. If there is street work available, he can take it. If there is not, he can see whether the Respondent has system work available.

In an Employment Tribunal cabbie Zulquarnain Ali claimed he was discriminated based on the grounds “I find that in that way the Claimant is fundamentally of his religion because he was not allowed to wear his running a self- employed business as a taxi driver on shalwar kameez. The cabbie wore the South Asian his own account. garment to allow entry into the mosque to pray. “One source of work for his business, which he can According to the judgment sent to parties on 17 June, choose to exploit, is the Respondent’s system work. Leeds Taxi Owners Ltd temporarily suspended the He can look after himself in the relevant respects.” hackney carriage driver from its platform when it was FULL STORY: https://www.taxi-point.co.uk/post/ claimed he was breaching the dress code policy by muslim-taxi-driver-losses-dress-code-legal-battlewearing the traditional garments while working. against-operator-due-to-self-employment-status In the tribunal report Judge Davies ruled Mr Ali cannot move forwards with his claim against the Leeds operator as he was a self-employed worker, not an employee. Judge Davies said: “I find that the Claimant falls on the side of the line of being in business on his own account and able to look after himself in the relevant respects.

Image credit: Ross Campbell SEPTEMBER 2021 - Edition 29

UK TAXI NEWS

Chinese ride-hailing firm Didi has suspended its plans to launch in Britain and Europe following concerns over the handling of sensitive passenger data, according to news sources. The ride-hailing giant was preparing to enter the UK private hire market to rival Uber, Bolt and other app -based ride-sharing firms, after an application submitted to Trafford Council emerged earlier this summer. The company applied to Trafford Council for use of an office at Empress Business Centre on Chester Road, stating the premises will be used as office space for employees, not a driver or passenger hub.

Didi had also obtained operating licences in other regions of the UK, but it is now claimed the firm have pulled back on plans for at least 12 months, according to The Telegraph. It is claimed that employees working on the planned UK launch have been notified of possible redundancy and hiring in Britain has now ceased. FULL STORY: https://www.taxi-point.co.uk/post/ ride-hailing-firm-didi-pushes-uk-launch-plans-backby-at-least-12-months

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Black Cab Heritage Tours have been recognised as a 2021 Travellers’ Choice award winner for International Travel. The achievement recognises businesses that have consistently delivered fantastic experiences to travellers around the globe, via traveller reviews on Tripadvisor over the last 12 months. Despite a challenging twelve months in the travel and hospitality sector, Black Cab Heritage Tours (BCHT) stood out after continuously delighting travellers in the capital.

A spokesperson from BCHT said: “Black Cab Heritage Tours could not be happier with the announcement of this year’s award, and we couldn’t have done it without the care and focus on customer service excellence of our driver guides.” FULL STORY: https://www.taxi-point.co.uk/ post/black-cab-heritage-tours-wins-2021tripadvisor-travelers-choice-award-forinternational-travel

UK TAXI NEWS

Nine distinctive electric taxis adorned in a new green and blue livery, as part of a wireless charging electric vehicle trial funded by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV), will arrive in Nottingham in the coming months. Five plug-in hybrid LEVC TX Electric Taxis, and four electric Nissan Dynamo taxis, will promote the WiCET (Wireless Charging of Electric Taxis) branding, with "this electric taxi will charge wirelessly" emblazoned Image credit: WiCET over concentric rings that signify the wireless power WiCET is a £4.47 million project that aims to transfer. demonstrate the commercial and technical viability of The taxis will be available on Nottingham’s streets for deploying wireless charging for electric Hackney hail by the general public as they capture vehicle data Carriages in medium and large cities. for the trial, including journey distances and battery FULL STORY: https://www.taxi-point.co.uk/post/ level. Posters inside the taxis will help inform new-electric-taxi-livery-in-nottingham-for-uks-first-4 passengers how wireless charging works and the -5m-wireless-charging-trial benefits of charging wirelessly.

A London taxi manufacturer has extended its FULL STORY: https://www.taxi-point.co.uk/post/ crowdfunding campaign in a quest to secure £2million london-taxi-manufacturer-extends-crowdfundinginvestment. campaign-in-quest-for-2million-investment

Coventry based Dynamo Motor Company, manufacturers of the Dynamo Taxi, has so far raised £1.7million from nearly 600 investors on Seedrs. The fundraising target was set at £2million. The expansion will see Dynamo Motor Company’s allelectric Black Cab production increase and diversification into other mobility sectors that require wheelchair accessibility, as well as adding a last-mile delivery van to its zero-emission line-up.

SEPTEMBER 2021 - Image Edition 29 credit: DYNAMO

UK TAXI NEWS

Bury Council’s cabinet has approved Greater Manchester’s final Clean Air Plan to tackle the problem of air pollution on local roads, which they say contributes towards at least 1,200 deaths per year in the city-region.

May 2022, alongside more than £120m government funding, which as well as supporting local businesses, will also be used to assist taxi and private hire drivers switch to more cleaner, compliant vehicles.

The Clean Air Plan includes proposals for a GM-wide Clean Air Zone, which is anticipated to launch on 30

4m-made-available-to-greater-manchester-taxiindustry-to-help-switch-to-greener-vehicles

A total of £21.4m will be made available to the taxi All ten Greater Manchester (GM) councils considered industry to help build a greener fleet of vehicles the GM Clean Air Plan at meetings taking place licensed within the Greater Manchester area. throughout July, after the plan was endorsed by the Applications for funding support will open from the ten GM local authority leaders at a GMCA meeting on end of November this year. 25 June. FULL STORY: https://www.taxi-point.co.uk/post/21-

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UK TAXI NEWS

London Taxi PR and trade supporters have hailed the launch of a new ‘Orange Ribbon’ remembrance campaign in respect of those who were sadly lost during the coronavirus pandemic. At the launch taxi driver Dale Forwood received an honorary ribbon presented to her by political figure Ms Farah London, in memory of her brother Tony who was also a Taxi driver. The Orange Ribbons are available from KPM & Cabvision at Lukin Street and Russell Square green Taxi shelter. London Taxi PR hope to add more locations in the coming weeks, and are available for a minimum donation of £5 each.

Image credit: LTPR

All monies raised will be divided equally between the respective taxi charities. The charities include the Cabmens Shelter Fund, Taxi Charity for Military Veterans and London Taxi Charity for Children who were all present at the launch. FULL STORY: https://www.taxi-point.co.uk/post/ taxi-trade-hails-orange-ribbon-remembrancecampaign-respecting-those-lost-during-thepandemic

Image credit: BC CLUB

An old iconic traditional London black taxi has helped raise over £60,000 for charity as part of the BC Club’s driving challenge. The BC Club started as a group of guys getting together to have a good time, whilst doing something positive to help those less fortunate, donating £400,000 to numerous charities to date. The aim for the team was to use the black taxi to raise as close to £100,000 for charity. Currently two businesses have raised a whopping £60,000 for their chosen charity; Variety Wessex, which provides support for sick, disabled and disadvantaged children, by taking it in turns to drive the cab each week. FULL STORY: https://www.taxi-point.co.uk/post/ old-but-still-gold-retired-london-taxi-helps-to-raise -tens-of-thousands-for-charity

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TAXI FARES

With travel beginning to open up around the world, people will be budgeting for a long-awaited vacation and that includes their taxi trip from the airport to the hotel. Fleet Logging have created a series of maps and infographics to show the cost of an airport taxi ride around the world, as well as the cheapest and most expensive airports to hail a ride. Following their guide to plane, train, and bus pricing around the world, FleetLogging.com set out to discover the airports that charge the most for a taxi ride to the city centre, and the airport taxis that charge the most per kilometre. Half the most expensive airport taxis are located in Europe. But the most expensive airport taxi in the world, costing a cool $165, is handed to cabbies driving from Hiroshima Airport into the Japanese city centre 38 kilometres away. Japan’s Oita Airport will cost the same amount as its Japanese counterpart, leaving London’s Southend Airport to pick up third spot costing $146. Image credit: Fleet Logging. www.fleetlogging.com CC4.0

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GLOBAL NEWS Taxi firm 13cabs is handing the controls to its passengers by allowing them to specifically choose a driver who is fully vaccinated if they wish. With more than 10,000 drivers in their fleet, 13cabs Chief Operating Officer, Stuart Overell said the firm has already received a number of passenger requests for fully vaccinated drivers, so decided to take the idea direct to the drivers themselves.

Image credit: 13cabs

The firm will now collect COVID-19 certificates for all their drivers, adding such verification to their booking database for passengers to request.

New York’s iconic yellow cabs have seen a surge in fares booked through the ride-hailing app, Curb, who launched to rival Uber. Curb saw a 152% increase between April and July according to data released by the firm.

Image credit: RTA

Image credit: PXFUEL

56% of Dubai’s taxi fleet will be environmentally friendly by 2023, according to the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The RTA signed a deal with General Motors-backed Cruise, to scale up self-driving taxis. Numbers will be increased to 4,000 self-driving taxis by 2030.

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GLOBAL NEWS

A taxi driver was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, after his vehicle mounted a central island at a pedestrian crossing killing two people and injuring eight others. Police confirmed that the driver had run a red light.

Taxi and private hire drivers will be allowed to continue delivering groceries as a way of topping up their earnings. In March last year, the Transport Minister opened up the opportunity for drivers to help during the pandemic. The scheme has now been extended until September 2022.

According to Turkish news publication Daily Sabah, Istanbul’s police department have stepped up their efforts to crack down on taxi drivers allegedly scamming tourists. According to reports, a number of drivers have been caught and reported for overcharging passengers being picked up at the city’s most popular tourist attractions.

SEPTEMBER 2021 - Edition 29

WORLD TAXI FEATURE

Welcome to part three of our ongoing series of global taxis. We continue looking at the world’s most distinctive looking cabs outside of the iconic black taxi we see and love in most big UK cities. Budget Direct have released a new series of

illustrated posters, showcasing different taxis from every country. We will be running through the A-Z of the 57 most iconic taxis. In this edition we look at Congo, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia and France.

SEPTEMBER 2021 - Edition 29

WORLD TAXI FEATURE

SEPTEMBER 2021 - Edition 29

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SEPTEMBER 2021 - Edition 29