Uber has announced plans for all its London drivers to use electric cars by the end of 2025 in an ambitious move that would make the city the firm’s first all-electric location.
Sunday Times Driving reports that to encourage drivers of internal combustion-engined cars to make the switch, Uber has set up a London-focused web page entitled “Upgrading to an Electric Vehicle in London”. Along with detailed benefits of using an electric vehicle in London, the site allows access to Uber’s “GoElectric Info” sessions, taking the form of online webinars.
Existing Uber drivers using electric cars join the sessions to answer questions, while the attendees also hear about potential savings following a switch to an EV, which electric cars are the most popular on Uber and how the firm’s ‘Clean Air Plan’ works.
The latter scheme allows drivers to build up ‘EV assistance’ credits that can then be used to help fund the purchase or leasing of an electric car.
Uber confirmed that the most popular electric cars used by its drivers include the Nissan Leaf, Kia e-Niro and Tesla Model 3, though larger and more luxurious models — such as the Tesla Model S and X — are available for Uber’s “Comfort” or “Exec” ride options.
Drivers working for Uber can avail of discounts through PartnerPoint, and Uber’s website offers advice on price, range and charging speed. It suggests that a typical London-based Uber driver could expect to cover 100-130 miles per day, which is well within the capability of most new electric cars.
It’s understood that Uber plans to pay for 700 additional EV chargers to be installed in less affluent areas of London — Newham, Redbridge and Brent — as many of its drivers live in those areas and they are not currently well-served by the slow roll out of the public EV-charging network.
In an update on Uber’s environmental, social and governance progress published at the end of last month, it claims to have “tripled the number of electric vehicles on the platform and connected 31 million unique riders with a ride in an electric vehicle” globally.
Uber must be hoping that its goal to make London its first all-electric location will ingratiate the company with the local authorities. In March 2022 Uber was granted a two-and-a-half-year licence to operate in London having been denied a licence by Transport for London in 2019.
Following the denial, Uber made a concerted effort to encourage drivers and customers alike to go electric, and it improved conditions for its drivers, too, following a Supreme Court ruling on the subject. It now treats them as employees, with holiday pay, the option to join a pension scheme and a guarantee that they will earn at least the minimum wage.
“London is already Uber’s most electrified city,” said Andrew Brem, Uber’s UK general manager. “That said, I am not suggesting it’s not very ambitious. It is, without a doubt. But we are focusing everything on making it work.”
Brem added the transition to electric vehicles goes through periods of “headwinds and tailwinds”.
“The tailwinds are that London is supporting the move to electric vehicles: there is no congestion charge and Transport for London has decided not to approve any more taxis that are not at least a plug-in hybrid, although our goal is 100 per cent electric.
“Headwinds at the moment are the overall shortage of vehicles in the market and of course the cost-of-living challenge which is affecting everyone.
“Will we make it by the end of 2025? Yes, but I think it will be very difficult.”
Source: https://www.driving.co.uk/news/business/uber-aims-all-electric-london-cab-fleet-by-2025/
Two taxi drivers faced questioning over claims they had driven passengers after drinking, while allegations an alleged unlicensed driver was advertising on social media have also been investigated.
Torfaen Borough Council licensing officers said they had “fully investigated” reports that drivers licensed by the council had been carrying passengers while under the influence of alcohol. The drivers, who denied driving while under the influence of alcohol, were both spoken to by licensing officers.
The South Wales Argus reports that the investigations were reported to the council’s licensing committee in an update on the licensing team’s work between October last year and March this year, and councillors were told there has been no evidence to substantiate the allegations.
In December licensing officers were alerted to social media posts by an unlicensed driver offering lifts to members of the public with their contact details advertised.
A licensing officer made “several” attempts to contact the number to provide advice and left messages on both the answerphone and with the person sharing the posts on social media.
The committee was told as yet no contact has been established and the council hasn’t had any information to suggest the person has continued to advertise.
Six licences were also suspended, during the period October to March, for drivers failing to comply with the policy they must complete six-monthly DBS criminal records checks. All the licences were supended until the drivers had complied.
Two drivers also had their licences suspended with immediate effect “in the interests of public safety” due to declared medical conditions.
In total the council received 13 complaints about licensed drivers with the others related to alleged overcharging, vehicles turning up late or not turning up at all, and general poor service provision.
During the same period it also received 32 complaints about taxi or private hire licensing issues with ten relating to vehicles such as private hire vehicles not displaying details of the operator, as required by the council’s policy and vehicles being dirty.
Complaints were also received about licensed vehicles not having MoTs, but the report said while some drivers do opt to have a standard MoT they aren’t required to do so. Licensed vehicles older than a year are instead subject to a stricter test required for the council’s Certificate of Compliance to be issued.
The council has also worked with Gwent Police to check the conditions of vehicles being used to carry passengers.
In October, licensing, police, and the DVSA held two joint operations, during which a total of 12 licensed vehicles were subjected to inspections.
Six delayed prohibition notices were issued for defects and one immediate prohibition notice was issued, while one driver was requested to remove window tint from his vehicle at the roadside.
An evening operation with the police in December saw five vehicles inspected and no major defects identified.
Taxi drivers are being asked to check dashcam footage to help police work out how a man came to be seriously injured in Wirral.
The Liverpool Echo reports that the man, believed to be in his 30s, was found in Milner Road, Heswall, at around 8.45am on Sunday May 14.
Police confirmed that an air ambulance was deployed to the scene and he was later taken to hospital in a serious condition.
The force is investigating how the man sustained his injuries and witness and CCTV enquiries are in the process of being carried out.
Road closures at Milner Road, Border road and the surrounding areas were also put in place.
Merseyside Police is specifically asking taxi and private hire drivers as well as delivery drivers who passed through the area to check their dashcam footage.
Members of the public are also being asked to come forward with any relevant information.
Chief Inspector Bobby Woodhall said: “At this stage it is not clear how the man came to be injured and we are investigating a number of lines of enquiry.
"I would ask anyone who was in the area of Milner Road or Telegraph Road in the early hours of this morning who saw or heard anything suspicious to contact us.
“I would also ask taxi drivers and delivery drivers to check their dashcam to see if they captured anything significant.”
Anyone with information is asked to DM @MerPolCC or call 101 quoting log 298 of 14th May.
An independent report produced last summer for Environment & Infrastructure concluded that the industry was ‘not fit for purpose’ and required ‘radical change’.
But according to the Guernsey Press, the Taxi Drivers’ Association believes that measures introduced by E&I in response to the report are delivering improvements for passengers, taxi companies and drivers.
E&I has issued 90 new permits in the past seven months since making changes to the licensing regime.
"Prior to this change, the process for obtaining a public service vehicle licence was time-consuming and costly and it meant that potential drivers were faced with costs and lengthy waiting times before they could start earning a wage," said Nicki Bessin, who leads the association.
"The removal of the island knowledge and driving components have meant the onus has been placed on the employer to train newly-qualified staff.
"The result of this decision has meant an initial flurry of new drivers to the industry, which has seen benefits in a number of areas."
Ms Bessin said more taxis were now available for locals and visitors, queues at the Weighbridge rank have been reduced, especially late at night on weekends, and companies and individuals with taxi plates were finding it easier to recruit drivers.
But she acknowledged that some experienced drivers felt they had lost out under the new regime.
"There are a number of drivers who may be adversely affected by the new measures, particularly those who work the taxi ranks, as they will now be faced with additional competition," she said.
"While we will always struggle to please everyone, I think most people will agree that the measures are a step in the right direction."
The association was formed last year to replace the fractured Taxi Owners’ Federation, following another recommendation in the review commissioned by E&I.
Source: https://guernseypress.com/news/2023/05/15/eis-measures-have-improved-industry-says-taxi-association/
Taxi drivers in Dorking say their income will be slashed due to nationwide walkouts from rail workers. On Saturday 13 May, train operator South Western Railway warned there would be a large cutback to services between 7am and 7pm with people told to travel only if it was “absolutely necessary".
SurreyLive reports that as a result, dozens of train stations in Surrey will be cut off from the rest of the network and no services will run during the affected period.
One of those is Dorking which despite being one of Surrey’s main commuter towns, and also being served by Southern Rail trains, will be cut adrift.
The strike is particularly bad news for taxi drivers who rely heavily on trips to and from the station for their income.
Amir Hussain, 69, said the strike heavily affects his daily income and means he takes home half of what he normally would during a normal day.
“We have to pay insurance, for the taxi driver it’s too much,” he said. “Everything is around the station, when the station is closed we can’t make any money.
“If we usually make £70 we will take £30, maybe £35. It is very frustrating. Sometimes they do bus services but nobody travels, it’s empty.
"I can tell you 100% that the strike is no good for us, especially taxi drivers.”
Source: https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/surrey-town-named-one-best-26894216
Dramatic CCTV footage has captured the moment a hooded figure set a taxi alight on a residential driveway.
A Drongan taxi driver has been convicted of sexually assaulting a female passenger after offering to waive her fare in exchange for sex.
Artur Nowostawski has been jailed for six years and nine months after he attacked a taxi driver earlier this year.
Taxi drivers in the city are facing significant financial losses after a series of electric vehicle charging point failures left them unable to operate.
Police are appealing for help to trace a man who disappeared after getting into a taxi bound for the Otley area of Leeds.
The company’s operator licence includes a condition ordering all drivers to undergo the same training as those from other companies.
Police have stopped a private hire driver who was driving the wrong way on the M1 close to Junction 8 at Hemel Hempstead.
Newcastle City Council is set to introduce strict new measures to tackle illegal and inconsiderate parking near Newcastle International Airport.
West Mercia Police is appealing for information following a rape that took place in Malvern's Priory Park early on Sunday, August 4th.
Glasgow taxi users could be facing a near-10% fare increase and extended night-time charges.
At least 14 cars have been damaged since June, with drivers suffering financial loss and emotional distress.
The attack happened at around 12.45pm on Etruria Vale Road, Stoke, when the victim, driving a Toyota Avensis, was punched in the face by one of the men.
Cumberland Council has taken decisive action to protect public safety by revoking the licence of a taxi driver charged last week with a serious racially aggravated offence.
A historic bridge has been closed indefinitely after an Uber car became wedged on Saturday morning.
A local councillor has sparked a debate on passenger safety after claiming that using locally licensed taxis is safer than hailing an Uber.
A taxi driver was attacked and subjected to racist abuse after two brothers refused to pay him up front.
Christopher Hilling, 64, admitted to engaging a child in sexual activity at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday 8 August.
Abdigani Ebrahim, 38, of Grangetown, admitted charges of affray and criminal damage following the incident in Northcote Street, Roath, last July.
The crackdown targeted drivers operating across council boundaries to ensure public safety and compliance with regulations.
Lucio Valentino relies on his six-year-old Border Collie, Pixel, to help manage his mental health conditions, including depression and personality disorders.