FREENOW, Europe’s Mobility Super app, is celebrating 200 years of the first licenced cab in London, by pledging its support to taxi drivers with the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) while ensuring drivers continue to get the highest earnings through its app.
FREENOW wants to contribute to future-proof the taxi industry by doubling its EV subsidy for new drivers, to £4,000, while maintaining the existing EV subsidy for current drivers and the discounts on EV charging1. This is off the back of a lack of financial support from the government when it comes to accessibility, affordable charging and financial packages.
With taxis being such an integral and iconic part of city life, FREENOW wants to ensure that the sector continues to thrive as it moves towards a more sustainable future, as drivers move to lower and zero emission vehicles, in line with the UK’s national net zero targets.
The journey to EV adoption requires better charging infrastructure for drivers, and the upfront and running costs can be prohibitive, locking taxi drivers out of being able to enter or continue their careers. This is especially true in light of the cost-of-living crisis and increasing operational costs within the taxi sector. Calls for the VAT levied at on-street EV charge points to be levelled to that of domestic charging have gone ignored, as have calls for the Plug-In Taxi Grant, for buying EV taxis, to be extended.
With the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the first licenced black cab in London coming up on the 23rd of April, FREENOW will also be doubling the tips for taxi drivers across the UK over the weekend of the 22nd-23rd April. and offering its users 200 discounted taxi rides. This way, both drivers and users can celebrate this occasion and the key role taxi drivers play in moving people quickly and safely around the city but also as active members of their local communities.
Mariusz Zabrocki, UK General Manager, FREENOW, says: “Anyone visiting or living in London knows that black cabs are an institution and an integral part of the city. So, it’s incredibly exciting to be celebrating 200 years since the first licenced cabs started to operate in London. Having reached this milestone, it’s an important time for us all to look at what drivers need and see what we can do to ensure that the cab is here for another 200 years. Sustainable transport options are becoming more important to passengers and drivers alike. We know that drivers need more support in the transition to EV – whether that is accessible and affordable charging or financial packages that help them purchase EV taxis. By doubling our EV subsidy for new drivers, we will be helping our drivers on their sustainability journey.
“As we pledge to continue to support the taxi industry, we also want to celebrate this special anniversary by doubling all the tips given to FREENOW taxi drivers over the weekend.”
FREENOW is particularly pleased to be celebrating this anniversary, as the world’s first motorized taxi cab was built by Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft in June 1896. The motorized taxi became instantly popular, and by 1899 taxi fleets were set up in all large European cities. Both DMG and Benz & Cie. recognised the potential of taxi operators and FREENOW, as a taxi first app, continues to do so with its taxi offer across Europe.
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