Mayor’s Report: Cabbies take up £30 million of new green grants to help switch to cleaner vehicles

London’s taxi drivers embrace city’s bid to clean up toxic air

In the 34th Mayor's Report to the Assembly, Sadiq Khan said that London's taxi drivers had been embracing the city's bid to clean up its toxic air, following Transport for London’s (TfL) confirmation that all of the 1,250 top payments for taking the most polluting taxis off the road have been taken advantage of by cabbies.

The Mayor confirmed that applications have now been received for around £30 million of the wider £42 million delicensing fund. 

The fund was brought in to support drivers wishing to delicense older, more polluting taxis early.

The Mayor said: "At the start of this year, TfL restructured a green fund that doubled the top grant to £10k for those wanting to swap their diesel car for a cleaner zero-emission capable model. "I increased the fund to £42 million, meaning that £10k payments were available to the first 1,250 taxi drivers to sign up. "Payments to encourage the uptake of zero-emission capable cabs will continue on a sliding scale and are made on a first come, first served basis." 

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

Image Author: Steve Punter