Fuel shift to electricity: Exploring the skepticism towards electric taxis
In Hamburg, the future is now for taxis: This year, only emission-free taxis have been permitted to be registered. Could this set the trend for the Southwest? Opinions among taxi drivers are divided, and not every city has the optimal conditions like Hamburg's state capital, Stuttgart.
Embracing Sustainability: The Hamburg Model
Nearly 700 of the 3,000 taxis in Hamburg run on full electric power, with a considerable number utilizing hydrogen. The Hanseatic city claims that this shift slashes many thousands of tons of carbon dioxide. Six exclusive fast chargers, equipped with twelve charging points, are available at taxi stands for the convenience of drivers.
All new taxis must be emission-free; however, this mandate doesn't apply to large-capacity and wheelchair-accessible taxis until 2027. Combustion engines can still operate, and the city supports taxi entrepreneurs in transitioning to electric power.
Baden-Württemberg's Steps Towards the Eco-Friendly Quotient
The majority of the approximately 8,000 taxis in Baden-Württemberg still rely on diesel or gasoline engines. In pursuit of clean air, the environmentally-conscious Ministry of Transport is promoting the switch. Each electric taxi is eligible for a subsidy of 3,000 euros. Freiburg welcomes the "E-Taxi funding program" but advocates for an expansion of the initiative.
A Hamburg-like commitment isn’t on the agenda for Baden-Württemberg. Instead, the ministry focuses on working with cities eager to boost the percentage of electric vehicles through incentives. "We'll assess the success of this approach," a spokesperson stated.
"I’m thrilled when a taxi company offers climate-friendly transportation via an electric taxi," said Minister Winfried Hermann. Taxis are prime for transitioning to electric as they frequently travel in the city and can utilize breaks and waiting times for charging.
Perspectives from Taxi Drivers in the State
Thomas Laschuk, head of the Taxi Association Germany in Baden-Württemberg, is unconvinced about the shift. He had an electric taxi briefly but deemed it impractical. "Passengers don’t care about the type of vehicle they ride in. They want a clean car, a driver who speaks German, and a quick, affordable ride from A to B."
This sentiment likely resonates with most of the roughly 3,700 taxi companies in the state, estimates Nuri Altun. His colleague from Karlsruhe, chairman of the Taxi Association Baden-Württemberg, favors the switch to emission-free vehicles. He's set to acquire an electric vehicle by year's end and predicts that 50 to 60 of the approximately 760 taxis in the state capital, Stuttgart, will be electric by then.
Barriers to Change
Whether electric or hydrogen-powered, Altun has been advocating for taxi drivers to switch for years, but information about electric cars is a significant hurdle. Convincing drivers to adopt new technologies isn't straightforward. Additionally, concerns about charging infrastructure and battery range persist.
Laschuk explains that with a diesel taxi, he can travel 1,000 kilometers. With an electric car, he'd have trouble reaching Frankfurt Airport if the power only lasts for 150 kilometers. "If I have to halt for half an hour to charge, the passengers will show me the way," says Laschuk. Increasing charging stations doesn't solve his problems. "How many charging stations do you propose for 250 taxis in Karlsruhe?"
Encouragement for Adopting the Green Approach
Although no additional text was provided in the original article about incentives, some cities have taken initiatives of their own. In the state capital of Stuttgart, for instance, there are three charging stations where taxis can refuel their electric vehicles free of charge and exclusively at taxi stands. "That's a great incentive," said Altun.
These stations are part of Stuttgart's "E-Taxi Action Plan." The objective is to make it simpler for taxi companies to transition to electric mobility. By positioning charging points at taxi stands, the city ensures they're free.
Shared Experiences Among Cities
The city of Karlsruhe prioritizes public fast-charging stations, such as the four pillars with eight charging points at the southern train station entrance. More public fast-charging stations are planned near a taxi stand in the city center. The city opposes exclusive allocation of public space for a specific group, with taxis free to charge their vehicles outside of working hours at their own premises.
Freiburg has no special charging infrastructure for e-Taxis, but it offers 561 public charging points for electric cars, many of which are fast-charging stations. Given the high potential for CO2 reduction, the city is open to exploring alternative solutions.
In Heilbronn, where electric taxis are already in use, the taxi industry hasn't voiced a need for charging stations from the city. Ideally, the ADAC suggests, taxi companies should plan their charging infrastructure when purchasing an electric vehicle. "It could indeed be interesting for taxi companies to have their own charging infrastructure on their premises," the automobile club said.
- The science of environmental-science is being applied in the Hamburg model, where 700 of their 3,000 taxis run on electric or hydrogen power, with the goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
- While Baden-Württemberg, with about 8,000 taxis, is not committing to a Hamburg-like transition, they are promoting the switch to electric taxis and offering a subsidy of 3,000 euros for each electric taxi.
- The finance sector plays a role in this shift as well, with Minister Winfried Hermann expressing enthusiasm for climate-friendly transportation via electric taxis and their frequent, city-based travel routes offering ample opportunity for charging.
- In the public-transit sector, cities like Stuttgart provide free charging for electric taxis at certain taxi stands, such as part of their "E-Taxi Action Plan," while others like Karlsruhe prioritize public fast-charging stations accessible to all electric vehicles, not just taxis.
