The Mayor of London, Sadiq khan, has said although Transport for London (TfL) does not have any direct control over setting tariff rates for electric taxi charging points at Heathrow, officers are actively engaging with representatives from the airport to initiate a review of prices to ensure cost does not pose a barrier to usage.
The issue of increased rates on electric chargers in the airport's taxi feeder park, leading to seemingly lower usage on points, was addressed to Khan by Caroline Russell.
Russell, MP for the Green Party and a member of the London Assembly, said: "Taxi drivers have been in touch with me concerned that already high costs for charging a taxi at Heathrow have now been increased."
Russell continued to stress her concerns that if charging at Heathrow is too expensive, then car emissions at the airport will increase given that taxi drivers can switch to using petrol instead.
"What measures will you take to ensure investment in EV charging at Heathrow is used to keep pollution levels as low as possible?" Russell added.
Heathrow Airport Ltd increased the price for rapid charging in their taxi feeder park in January, from approximately 31p to 39p/kWh.
Khan said: "This is equivalent to Shell Recharge’s 39p/kWh cost and slightly more than Engenie’s 36p/kWh. There are several other taxi-only rapid chargers nearby which are lower cost.
"While Transport for London does not have any direct control over setting tariffs at Heathrow, TfL officers are actively engaging with representatives from Heathrow to initiate a review of prices to ensure cost does not pose a barrier to usage."
Transport for London has set in place measures to convert the capital's taxi fleet to zero emissions capable vehicles in aid to lower pollution in the city.
Drivers who have already made the jump to the newer taxis are constantly on the lookout for the best deals for charging their vehicles and would most certainly welcome lower costs at Heathrow's allocated points.
Image credit: National Archives - Remixed
