Nottingham City Council are calling on Hackney carriage drivers to apply for financial support which can be used to switch to an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEZ), as the March deadline for applications approaches.
The council secured funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ Clean Air Fund. It can now offer up to £3,191 of financial support to each driver switching to an ULEZ.
This includes contributions to vehicle licence fees and MOT over two years, insurance for the first year, meter installation and a new home charge point or preloaded charge card.
So far 34 drivers have made the switch after receiving support, which the council described as “great news for them, and great for our environment, especially considering the challenges of the pandemic”.
Funding is awarded under De Minimis State Aid rules. Hackney taxi drivers must provide evidence to apply, including valid Blue Hackney Taxi Licence and ULEV vehicle registration document.
Additionally, as funding has to be allocated by 31 March the council is writing to all Hackney carriage drivers in the city to make sure they take advantage.
A spokesperson for the council, added: “We’re continuing to trial innovative new technology to make greener taxis better for both drivers and passengers, including the WiCET project [which looks to demonstrate the commercial and technical viability of deploying wireless charging for electric Hackney carriages]. Working with a number of partners, we’re testing wireless charging pads that could be laid on taxi ranks, meaning drivers don’t have to plug in.”
Read more: Nottingham’s Hackney carriage drivers given more time to ‘go green’
