£3.2m electric charging points project set to offer free use for Taxi and Private Hire drivers until

West Yorkshire Combined Authority have appointed energy and services company Engie to install 88 free charging points. Exact locations are yet to be decided but according to fleetworld each charging point will have two charging bays, one allocated for taxi and private hire vehicles and the other for public users. The project will be the second biggest supply of electric charging points for taxis, with London the largest. The points will be free to use until 2021 for both taxi, private hire drivers and the public. Councillor Kim Groves believes making half the bays exclusive for taxis and private hire vehicles will result in an upturn in diesel taxis being converted to hybrid and pure electric versions by 2020. £2m worth of government funding will aid the project along with £1.2m funding from combined district partners, Wakefield, Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees and Leeds councils. The initiative supports the governments plans to improve air quality and members of the Environment and Communities at Wakefield Council believe having enough access points for taxis to charge electric will open up an alternate vehicle for professional drivers.