Hybrid cars are now gaining momentum in the market, and many are making the switch! Here’s why you should consider hybrid cars for your taxi fleet and some maintenance tips.
When looking to purchase a green taxi you may have a number of questions. For example, you may wonder if ‘green’ taxis are cost effective and reliable. The short answer is yes, hybrids are likely to cost less in the long run and tend to be reliable, but there are several things to take into consideration.
Why Should Drivers Consider Hybrids for their Taxi Fleet?
Cheaper to Run
Electric cars can be cheaper to run. When comparing a trip in Europe in an electric and a non-electric vehicle, the IEA concluded that drivers of electric cars could pay only approximately a fourth of the price.
Fuel Efficiency
Another important factor is fuel efficiency. Hybrid electric vehicles use less fuel which drives down the costs. This can make a difference for taxi drivers, since taxis tend to have a higher mileage than other cars.
Government Incentives
The UK government has taken an important step towards zero emission vehicles. According to the plan, the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be discontinued by 2030 and by 2035 all new cars and vans will be required to be fully zero emission. In order to make green cars more popular, there are several incentives that drivers can take advantage of. If certain requirements are met, grants are offered for both vans and cars, which makes purchasing an electric vehicle up to 65% more affordable. The exact amount depends on a few factors such as the model of the car. The retail price including VAT cannot be higher than £35,000 in order to be able to apply for the grant.
Other Advantages
Another way to save money is on the road tax, which can be significantly lower for plug-in cars. Much more importantly, the value of many electric vehicles is not expected to decrease as much as traditional models.
Maintenance Tips:
Here are some useful maintenance tips for your plug-in car.
- Ensure that the technician who is carrying out the work has experience with hybrid cars.
- Know how the battery works. Familiarizing yourself with the battery and how it works can be useful and save you money. You may not always need to replace the entire battery if something goes wrong.
- Don’t ignore routine engine checks. Even though the engine of hybrid cars doesn’t tend to wear as quickly, routine engine checks are still important.
Of course, investing in a hybrid taxi fleet is an important contribution to the environment, and it could also be appealing to customers, who would like to reduce their own carbon footprint.
