TAXI POWER: Shift away from petrol and diesel taxis varies WILDLY across England, new data shows
A stark contrast between London and the rest of England in the fuel types used by taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs) has been revealed, highlighting regional preferences and regulatory influences on vehicle choice.
In London, only 44% of taxis run on petrol or diesel, a sharp difference compared to the 83% figure in England outside the capital.
This disparity is largely due to London's significant adoption of range-extended electric taxis, which now make up 54% of the city's taxi fleet. These vehicles, a sub-type of hybrid, have gained popularity in London since January 2018, when Transport for London mandated that all new taxis must be zero-emission capable.
Despite this, battery electric taxis remain a small proportion of the fleet in both London (1.3%) and the rest of England (1.1%).
Beyond the capital, data from the Department for Transport (DfT) Taxi and PHV Statistics show regional variations are also evident. For instance, in the West Midlands, 90% of taxis still rely on petrol or diesel, while this figure drops to 76% in the South East and East Midlands. These numbers suggest a slower shift away from traditional fuels in certain areas compared to others.
The trend in private hire vehicles follows a similar pattern. In London, just 28% of PHVs are petrol or diesel, while the figure is 59% for the rest of England. Instead, hybrid electric vehicles are more common in London, accounting for 52% of the PHV fleet compared to 39% elsewhere.
The North East stands out with 79% of its PHV fleet running on petrol or diesel, contrasting sharply with regions like Yorkshire and the Humber, where only 36% use these fuels. In these regions, a higher prevalence of hybrid electric vehicles is observed, indicating a regional shift towards greener options.
This regional breakdown highlights the varying pace of transition to cleaner vehicles across England, driven by both regulatory requirements and local market dynamics.
