The Government has so far financially supported the introduction of over 4,400 ULEV taxis
Rachel Maclean, Parliamentary Under-secretary for the Department for Transport, has said that the Government has so far financially supported the introduction of over 4,400 Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV) taxis.
The Government currently offers a 'Plug-in Taxi Grant', which provides funding of up to £7,500 off the cost of eligible ULEV taxis, which must be wheelchair accessible.
In addition, Maclean confirmed that the Government has also awarded over £20million to 27 local authorities to deploy almost 800 rapid and fast charging points, which are dedicated to electric taxis and private hire vehicles.
Maclean was responding to Stephen Morgan, Shadow Minister, Defence, Armed Forces, who had asked: "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment has been made of the effect of Clean Air Zones on wheelchair accessible taxi and private hire vehicles?"
Maclean said: "Clean Air Zones (CAZ) charge taxis and private hire vehicles as due to high mileage they can significantly contribute to air pollution, especially in the case of older vehicles.
"Local authorities implementing CAZs assess impacts on taxis and PHVs which include wheelchair accessible vehicles.
"JAQU provides clean air funding to mitigate these impacts has paid nearly £400m CAF to date. Portsmouth has been awarded £1.8m from this fund and a further award is expected to be made shortly."
