Forget Black – Can Taxis Go Even Greener?

The taxi trade is no stranger to sustainability initiatives. A new British start-up believes that taxis have the potential to go even greener.

Clipper Automotive is retrofitting the oldest members of London’s black cab fleet with electric motors. Their operating principle is simple: why scrap a perfectly good vehicle when you can just add an electric motor instead?

We understand that it is a complex issue. So, what are the arguments for and against?

The Case For

Clipper Automotive claim to retrofit an old taxi for £30,000. To buy a new hybrid taxi from the London Electric Vehicle Company costs £67,000. On paper, it is comparatively cheaper.

Beyond the reduction in emissions from using an electric motor, there are also the savings in carbon emissions associated with manufacturing a new electric vehicle versus reusing an existing vehicle.

The Case Against

The cost of retrofitting an electric engine is still expensive – £30,000 is a substantial amount of money considering annual registration costs and Taxes.

Government regulations are also challenging. London’s Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) relies on emissions data from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), meaning that even retrofitted Taxis can be charged the £12.50 fee.

Where does this leave us?

The ingenuity of Clipper Automotive is admirable. Can it move beyond being a niche novelty and become a widespread solution? Or will the high price tag hinder its adoption?

This is a question that can only be answered by the taxi industry. How they choose to invest their money will ultimately prove the rationale behind this idea.

As a final note, it’s nice to see that the London taxi continues to inspire brilliant ideas and home-grown innovation.