Cardiff's Taxi Fleet to Become Greener with New £200,000 Grant Scheme

🚖 Cardiff Council has allocated over £200,000 in grants to support local taxi drivers in reducing their carbon emissions. The initiative helps drivers transition to more fuel-efficient or fully electric vehicles, contributing to cleaner air and a greener future for the city.

💰 Grants range from £5,000 to £10,000 per vehicle, offering financial assistance for drivers to purchase Euro 6 vehicles or electric models.

Similar efforts to improve the environmental impact of taxi fleets are being made in other parts of the UK, such as Bolton, where the local fleet is also working towards meeting new green standards with a comprehensive emissions plan, as seen in reports like 🔗 Bolton's taxi fleet to meet green standards with new emissions plan.

Environmental Impact and Health Concerns 🌱

Transport is responsible for approximately a third of the carbon emissions in Cardiff, with older diesel taxis playing a significant role in air pollution. According to research, full-time taxi drivers in the UK typically cover 25,000 to 45,000 miles annually, a distance much higher than the average UK driver. The increased pollution from these vehicles has been linked to negative health effects for local residents.

Part of One Planet Cardiff Initiative 🌍

This initiative is part of Cardiff’s wider strategy to tackle climate change under the One Planet Cardiff programme. This program includes projects such as the installation of a new solar farm, planting 100,000 trees, and building energy-efficient housing. These efforts are aimed at making Cardiff a more sustainable city while improving local air quality.

Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Strategic Planning and Transport, Cllr De'Ath said:

"Transport accounts for around a third of the carbon emissions created in Cardiff, and the negative health impact of air pollution is well-documented. These grants help support the decarbonisation of Cardiff's taxi fleet and puts this vital component in the city's transport network on the road to a cleaner, greener future."