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Taxi drivers not ready for electric car push

Vikki Irwin
BBC political reporter, Suffolk
Reporting fromBury St Edmunds
Vikki Irwin/BBC Black and white taxis are lined up on the taxi rank in Bury St Edmunds. It's a sunny day with blue skies.Vikki Irwin/BBC
The aim by Suffolk's councils is to encourage more taxi drivers to make the switch to EVs, to reduce Co2 emissions

A report has suggested that all new taxis licensed in Suffolk from 2026 onwards should be electric. But the same report concluded that a lack of charging points would be a barrier. What do Hackney carriage drivers in Bury St Edmunds think?

The Taxi and Private Hire Transition to EV Study was commissioned by Suffolk County Council as part of its commitment to deliver a climate emergency plan and reduce Co2 emissions.

There are 1,999 licenced taxis and private hire vehicles in the county, and according to the report, the fleet emitted 9,118 tonnes of Co2 last year.

The motivation behind trying to get taxis to switch to electrification, the study says, would be to reduce "tailpipe emissions" and "improve air quality".

Vikki Irwin/BBC Sabrina Pettit is sitting in her taxi in the driver's seat. She is wearing a beige fleece and brown baseball cap. Sabrina is smiling at the camera. It's a sunny day outside and you can see a street view out the window behind her. Vikki Irwin/BBC
Sabrina Pettit says charging electric cars can be "complicated" and operators could "lose out on jobs" for longs journeys

Sabrina Pettit has only just started driving her taxi in Bury St Edmunds, having previously been employed as a driver for school transport.

She understands making the switch is a "good thing for the planet".

But Ms Pettit's taxi is not an EV and she is not ready to swap.

"I've heard that electric cars need charging quite a bit after a drive," she said.

"If I have to drive longer journeys, it could be a problem and we could lose clients."

Vikki Irwin/BBC Taxi driver Sandeep Singh is sitting in his car. He is wearing a blue and white striped shirt.Vikki Irwin/BBC
Sandeep Singh has been driving taxis in west Suffolk for 11 years and says EVs are "too expensive"

The council study received 419 responses to its survey, to understand taxi drivers views on switching to EVs.

It found only 1% of taxis in Suffolk were electric and that west Suffolk drivers covered the most mileage.

This is something Sandeep Singh, who has been driving a taxi in Bury St Edmunds for the last 11 years, can relate to.

"Sometimes we drive 200 or 300 miles and [EVs] don't have the range yet."

Mr Singh runs a couple of taxis and none of them are electric.

He thinks using electric cars for local trips could be a "possibility" but the models that do have the range for longer journeys are "too expensive to buy and they wouldn't make that much money".

Vikki Irwin/BBC Haydar Bayir is sitting in his taxi and is smiling at the camera. He has dark brown hair and is wearing a hooded jumper which is blue.Vikki Irwin/BBC
Haydar Bayir used to work in London as a cab driver and says business is "dead" for the taxi trade in Bury St Edmunds

Haydar Bayir says the costs of EVs are prohibitive and added: "Business is dead.

"Check the taxi rank - there are too many taxis [waiting for customers] and there's almost no places for parking.

"How would I make the money and pay the finance?"

The report is part of Suffolk's ambition to reach net zero by 2030.

Gerald Kelly is chairman of the Suffolk Councils' Environment Portfolio Holders' Group.

He "thanked" drivers for their responses and for helping them understand the "challenges" they faced in the move to EVs.

"There are many aspects to this, and everyone has a responsibility and a role to play – but I'm pleased we're able to support our taxi drivers explore the possibilities of operating electric vehicles."

Vikki Irwin/BBC Alin Mortoiu is standing outside his Taxi and on the street in Bury St Edmunds. He is wearing a blue polo shirt, has dark hair and is smiling at the camera. Vikki Irwin/BBC
Alin Mortoiu is one of only 15 taxi drivers in Suffolk who uses an electric vehicle

Alin Mortoiu is one of the very few operators - just 15 in Suffolk - who drive an electric taxi.

"It is quite reliable during the week, but I struggle on the weekends, because on a Friday and Saturday night I do more miles and need to have a break to charge."

The "game changer" for him to move to an EV was the preferential tariff he got with his electricity supplier and he charges his vehicle at home.

He continued: "Public charging points are too expensive.

"I can understand why some people wouldn't want to move to electric because if they do long mileage they can't rely on the charging points."

The report made other recommendations.

These included increasing the number of charging points and offering financial incentives to buy and run EVs.

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