Eight councils shortlisted for £20 million plug in taxi fund

Eight councils have been shortlisted to win a part of £20 million worth of funding to support an increase in the number of plug-in taxis.

The councils shortlisted are: Birmingham City Council, Cambridge City Council, Coventry City Council, Dundee City Council, Nottingham City Council, Oxford City Council, Sheffield City Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Each of the eight councils will receive a government backed study into improving environmentally friendly travel options in the area, which will gather information as to how local authorities could use the money to reduce upfront costs and install a charging infrastructure for taxis and private hire use.

The eight feasibility studies will each be backed by £30,000 of government finding and carried out independently by the Energy Saving Trust. Local authorities who are not shortlisted can still submit bids for a share of the £20 million fund, but they will have to cover the costs of their own feasibility study.

Philip Sellwood, Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust, said: “We’re really looking forward to working alongside government in taking this pioneering scheme forward and witnessing the huge benefits it will bring to businesses.

“Our experience in this area gives us every confidence that organisations as diverse as licensing authorities, car manufacturers, district network operators and charge-point installers can become leading players in rolling out ultra-low emission taxis and private hire vehicles right across the country.”

Read more