GOT A TAXI ISSUE , TALK ABOUT IT HERE!
Toyota is currently developing a Hydrogen driven combustion engine car, which you re-fuel with water!
You heard me. Yes WATER!
The vehicle does not carry highly explosive Hydrogen Gas tanks, so you won’t be driving around in what is potentially a Hydrogen Bomb, but instead a tank filled with water…
As reported in the PHTM Monthly magazine August issue – OUR INDUSTRY IS SHRINKING! The magazine provides a comprehensive insight into how the numbers of both Taxis & PHVs are shrinking, including national statistic tables, and latest numbers for Cornwall – see below…
So what is causing this shrink?
Images and extracts from PHTM – August Issue
It was what appeared to be a reasonbly productive meeting, with 7 trade representatives present, made up of 2 from Newquay, 1 from the Looe/Liskeard area, 1 from Bodmin, 2 from Truro and 1 from Kerrier. The Vice-Chair was absent, but the Chairman was accompanied by 4 licensing officers.
The agenda covered:
Vehicle Specs & Air Quality – licensing is going to hold off on this to await the best practice guidance results, however, it was emphasised by the trade, and taken onboard by the chairman, that vehicle prices have doubled, and with other rising costs this could have a catastrophic effect on our businesses if the wrong policy is put in place. Licensing did state that maybe the best way forward is to look just at a minimum EURO standard, which by 2025 would mean a minimum 10 year old vehicle (EURO6), so hopefully, a workable result can be achieved.
Annual increases – it was agreed that licensing would simply ask each zone if they would like an annual increase every January, and each zone could decide for itself, but at least it is accepted that it will happen and simplify the process greatly.
It was also asked about a discussion that took place at a similar meeting some time ago, when licensing was going to look into whether the trade could take advantage of the Councils own vehicle buying discount deals. Licensing are still going to look into this to see what can be done.
This is Money reported on 26/04/2022 that a leading mechanical engineering group has criticised European governments – including the UK – for plans to axe combustion engine vehicles from the market to meet net zero targets, saying it is fossil fuel that is the real problem.
Plans to allow only new electric vehicles on sale from 2035 is ‘the wrong way to go’ because the internal combustion engine is ‘ecological and economically advantageous,’ the Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA) says.
With the council seeking to enforce an age limit of 10 years and minimum EURO6 for diesel on new application or renewal (minimum Euro4 for petrol), where does that leave the vialibilty of our businesses?
Such aggresive policy making, could shrink a trade that is already struggling to get drivers to begin with, following the effects of the pandemic, purely by forcing the trade to write cheques their businesses cannot cash, or take on finance that could sink them under!