First electric taxi licensed in the District

Leigh Andrews, from AJ’s Taxis in Rugeley

Published: Monday 25th January 2021 | 12.14pm

Cannock Chase Council has licensed the first electric taxi in Cannock Chase.

Leigh Andrews, who lives in Cannock and works with AJ’s Taxis in Rugeley is the first person to license an electric vehicle for use as a taxi in the District.  Mr Andrews has set up a dedicated Facebook page about the vehicle so that customers can book the vehicle in advance, https://www.facebook.com/Electric-taxi-104795118271835

In common with many other local authorities in the country, the Council is examining how to tackle the many current and future challenges in respect of our Environment. A motion was approved at Council in July 2019, which declared a Climate Emergency and committed the Council to a vision of Carbon Neutrality by 2030, encouraging the transition to net zero carbon emissions in the decades to come.  One of the biggest sources of carbon emissions is road traffic.

Councillor Josh Newbury, Portfolio Leader for Environment and Climate Change said “Studies have shown that over the lifetime of a vehicle, electric vehicles are responsible for considerably lower emissions than conventional vehicles, especially as Britain is managing to decarbonise the electricity supply system at a rapid rate.

“Poor air quality is known to have a serious impact on public health and is responsible for 23500 premature deaths per year in the UK.”

Cannock Chase District currently has three ‘air quality management areas’ where levels of nitrogen dioxide from vehicle exhausts are higher than national standards.  We are currently looking for ways to work with partners to make improvements. Road traffic is by far the most significant cause of local air problems throughout the country.

In recognition of these issues, the Government has declared the intention to prevent the sale of conventional petrol and diesel vans and cars from 2040.

As there are no dirty emissions directly emitted from exhaust pipes of electric vehicles and they are responsible for less carbon emission overall, they are seen as the successor to petrol and diesel vehicles. The Council is exploring ways in which this transition can happen quickly and smoothly.

Councillor Christine Martin, Portfolio Leader for Health and Wellbeing said “Cannock Chase Council will now encourage drivers to move towards the use of electric vehicles (EVs), where possible, in preference to conventional petrol and diesel vehicles.

“We will shortly be consulting with taxi drivers and other interested parties on attitudes towards new vehicle technology and how the provision of charging points and costs etc. can help overcome obstacles to EV take up“.

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