Cardiff taxi drivers offered cash incentives worth up to £10,000 to upgrade to greener cabs

Cardiff Council has launched the Cardiff Hackney Emissions Reduction Grant Scheme (CHERG) to support taxi drivers in upgrading to more environmentally friendly vehicles. This initiative aims to reduce emissions and promote cleaner transport in the city.

Who Can Apply?

Eligible applicants must:

• Own a registered Hackney carriage licensed since 1 February 2024.

• Reside in Cardiff, with the taxi registered to their home address.

• Primarily earn their income from taxi driving.

• Have actively used their taxi over the last three months.

Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the funds are depleted, no further applications will be reviewed.

Funding Details

Grants range from £5,000 to £10,000 depending on the type of vehicle upgrade:

• Upgrading from Euro 3 to Euro 6: £6,000 for standard vehicles, £7,000 for wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAV).

• Upgrading from Euro 4 to Euro 6: £6,000 for standard vehicles, £7,000 for WAV.

• Upgrading from Euro 5 to Euro 6: £5,000 for standard vehicles, £6,000 for WAV.

• Any vehicle to Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV): £10,000 for both standard and WAV.

For BEV upgrades, an initial £5,000 is provided after purchase, followed by another £5,000 after 12 months of active use.

Applicants must submit several forms which include; a completed application form, proof of address, V5 logbook of the vehicle, taxi insurance documents and an active licence. Applicants must also show proof of sufficient bank balance for vehicle purchase.

Only one application per address is permitted. Applicants must wait for grant approval before purchasing a new vehicle.

The new vehicle must remain licensed for 24 months. De-licensing or not replacing a written-off vehicle with the same Euro Class can result in full grant repayment. Ineligible recipients must also repay the full grant amount.