Shock: Electric COVID-safe taxis set to start trial on the northern beaches
A fleet of 120 electric taxis offering passengers a COVID-safe ride is set to start a trial on Sydney’s northern beaches.
Manly
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The hum of Chinese-made electric taxis will soon be heard around the northern beaches.
A fleet of about 120 imported cabs will begin a six-month trial on our roads in a few weeks.
The initiative, backed by Northern Beaches Council, will be promoted as a COVID-19 safe mode of public transport as part of a “Clean Air Taxi” initiative by taxi provider, ETaxiCo.
The zero-emissions e-taxis are built by Chinese manufacturer BYD — the world’s biggest electric vehicle company — and are being imported by Sydney-based transport firm Nexport, ETaxiCo’s parent company.
When the first of the compact SUVs hit the road, the drivers will be separated from the front and back-seat passengers by a special capsule, to reduce the chances of transmitting COVID-19.
The cabs will be marketed as “zero contact, zero emissions”.
The first 15 taxis will first launch at three sites in the Northern Beaches council area as part of a six-month trial before the fleet grows to about 120 cars
Nexport managing director Luke Todd. said the council had been supportive.
“They provide us with dedicated priority positions at the front of existing ranks that are marked as EV only,” Mr Todd said.
“In the northern beaches area we have three prime spots and an electric taxi is permitted to move to front of queue, and that promotes the Clean Air Taxi initiative.”
The vehicles are the same as those used in the southern Chinese city of Shenzen, where about 45,000 electric cabs are on the road.
Mr Todd said he hoped the e-taxis will encourage a return to using cabs rather than ride-sharing outlets such as Uber and than Nexport was looking to partner with taxi operators, rather than compete against them.
The Council has shown its support for emission-free vehicles by adding battery powered electric vehicles to its fleet including Hyundai Ioniq cars and Mitsubishi Outlanders.
Charging stations for the vehicles — also available for public use — are situated at Warringah Mall, Harbord Diggers, Balgowlah Stockland, Dee Why PCYC, Warriewood Square and the Terrey Hills Flower Market.
Mayor Michael Regan said the Taxi Council, a peak industry body, approached the council to conduct the trial.
“We were happy to do so as electric cars are arguably the way of the future,” Mr Regan said.
“We are also pleased to support the industry in general especially as people embrace the technology that saves them money and reduces emissions.”