Taxi drivers licensed by Wolverhampton Council could be set to receive funding for new electric cabs
Taxi drivers licensed by Wolverhampton Council could be set to receive funding towards the switch to electric vehicles.
The council has announced that it has applied for funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for 3 projects which will encourage the uptake of ultra low emission vehicles, improve local green spaces and improve the heating efficiency of council buildings.
If successful, the bids will see the council receive up to £3.9 million of funding to help support its climate change commitment.
Under the first project, Wolverhampton is taking the lead in seeking funding to encourage the uptake of ultra low emission vehicles across the region.
On behalf of the 4 Black Country authorities, City of Wolverhampton Council is applying to the ERDF for £1.6 million.
If successful, the money would then be matched by Transport for the West Midlands, along with existing staff time from Black Country authorities and contributions from businesses benefiting from the grants, to create a new Black Country Electric Vehicle and Charging Infrastructure Grant Scheme (EVIGS).
The scheme would provide 100 Electric Vehicle grants to help taxi drivers and small and medium businesses buy electric vehicles, as well as providing 100 workplace grants to help businesses with the cost of installing charge points.
The funding would also provide 2 rapid charging hubs for electric vehicles across the Black Country and help raise public awareness of the benefits of energy efficient transport.
EVIGS aims to produce 1,378 CO2 tonnes of carbon savings over the project term, which runs until 2023, and approximately 500 tonnes of CO2 saving each year going forward.
Councillor Louise Miles, Cabinet Member for Resources at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “These are some very important bids which, if successful, will all support projects that are focussed on making our city and wider region a cleaner and greener place to live.
“The funding will be used to work with colleagues in neighbouring authorities to meet our climate change commitment.
“In addition, the bid for the WISE project will help the council to reduce its energy consumption and greenhouse gases. This will help support our commitment to make the City of Wolverhampton Council carbon neutral by 2028.”
At its next meeting on 29 July members of the city council’s Cabinet Resources Panel committee are being recommended to approve the council entering into grant funding agreements if the bids are successful.
