The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Air Pollution has published its Strategy to Reduce Coronavirus Infection as we emerge from Lockdown which contains provisions relevant to taxis.

Following on from my recent article “Post-Covid19 Transport Revolution – threat or opportunity?”, the publication of this strategy further points to this post-Covid19 transport revolution and the opportunities it presents for the licensed taxi and PHV trade.

Strategy to Reduce Coronavirus Infections

The severe lockdown has had a big impact on improving air quality. As lockdown measures gradually lifted, the report recognises the danger of deteriorating air quality that might have an adverse effect on health particularly in the context of a respiratory virus.

Particularly in the context of taxi and PHV licensing, the strategy proposes the following:

• Accelerate the electrification of diesel taxis

And more generally of relevance to the taxi and PHV trade:

• Extend the Low Emission Zone, Ultra Low Emission Zone and Congestion Zone in UK cities
• Accelerate electric vehicle rollouts and infrastructure
• Introduce vehicle scrappage schemes for the older vehicles
• Reduce or establish zero vehicle excise duty for electric or hydrogen vehicles
• Bring forward ban on new fossil fuel engines to 2030 at the latest