Electric taxis exempt from higher tax rates

Taxis will now be exempt from the premium rate of vehicle excise duty thanks to new legislation.

This will reduce costs for taxi drivers and companies who purchase zero-emission capable taxis over conventional petrol or diesel models.

Michael Ellis, Roads Minister, said: "Taxis are an iconic feature of our streets and by introducing financial incentives for the most environmentally friendly taxis and improving air quality in city centres, we are proudly putting our money where our mouth is."

Joerg Hofmann, CEO of LEVC, said: "We are pleased to see government exempting electric taxis from higher vehicle excise duty and continuing to back the taxi trade. Urban transport is changing rapidly but we agree that mobility must not come at the expense of air quality. Our taxi has been designed to meet current and future low emissions targets. It is equipped with the latest technology to enable a total driving range of 380 miles, providing the perfect solution to the clean air challenge."