Black cab drivers in London are calling for more support from government to help them make the transition to an all-electric fleet, and have teamed up with InstaVolt, the UK’s leading rapid charging network to show how this could be done.
Currently, just under 60% of London’s almost 15,000 strong black cab fleet is made up of zero emission capable, electric taxis.
The LDTA says reducing VAT on public charging to 5% and improving access to rapid chargers through superhubs, like InstaVolt’s, could help accelerate the move to every cab being an EV.
InstaVolt has just launched its largest ultra rapid EV charging superhub in the capital at Syon Park in Brentford. Although it’s built with all EV drivers in mind, InstaVolt says the new 14 charger superhub addresses the lack of rapid chargers in the capital.
To support black cabs drivers’ campaign to have VAT reduced to 5% at public charging points in line with home chargers, InstaVolt is also removing 15% of the cost at its chargers in the capital for a month, as a sign of solidarity.
Situated just 3 miles from the M4, and close to Heathrow Airport, Syon Park is along a main commuter artery, the A316 which runs from the capital to the M3.
Simon Smith, InstaVolt’s Chief Commercial Officer, said: “Cabbies are busy people for whom quite literally time is money and they need ready access to reliable charging solutions so they can get back on the road as quickly as possible, making InstaVolt the perfect partner.
"At Syon Park and across our network, cabbies can benefit from our industry leading 99%+ reliability as well as accessing a whole host of amenities.
“We are also delighted to be supporting the black cab drivers in their fight for lower prices for on-street public charging by self-removing 15% of our charging cost, effectively leaving a 5% element inline with the VAT for home charging.”
Since 2018, all taxis licensed for the first time have had to be zero emission capable and there are calls for the government and TfL to step in to do more to support drivers and reduce VAT on charging points.
Steve McNamara, General Secretary of the LTDA, said: “Well over half of London’s black cabs are now electric but the shortage of rapid public charging points and rising cost of charging remain barriers to wider uptake of electric taxis.
"Reducing the VAT on public charging, bringing it into line with home chargers, would help level the playing field for those drivers unable to charge at home as well as supporting drivers with mounting operating costs.
"We hugely appreciate InstaVolt’s gesture of removing the VAT equivalent themselves to demonstrate the positive impact such a reduction would have.”
Transport campaigner and original Top Gear presenter Quentin Willson, is the founder of FairCharge, which argues VAT needs to be cut on public EV charging.
Quentin said: “FairCharge has campaigned for three years repeatedly asking the Treasury to cut the VAT on public EV charging, and help reduce costs for those electric car drivers who can’t charge at home. Affordability is one of the key levers to mass EV adoption.
"I’m really encouraged to see InstaVolt symbolically reduce their prices, to reflect the difference a VAT cut would make, hopefully this will help HMT appreciate that reducing the tax on electricity for public EV charging is an important lever for increasing EV adoption.”
Supporting the cause is Edmund King OBE, AA president. He said: “It's unfair that black cab drivers, and others without access to off-street parking, should pay four times as much VAT on charging as those fortunate enough to be able to charge at home.
"We are pleased that InstaVolt are supporting the campaign for change.”
Source: https://instavolt.co.uk/black-cabbies-and-instavolt-join-forces-in-vat-fight/
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