Cost, range and charging access remain the biggest barriers for cabbies switching to fully electric taxis
- Perry Richardson
- Oct 11
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 13
Taxi drivers across the UK were asked what one factor is stopping them from switching to a fully electric taxi. The answers reveal a clear pattern. Cost dominates the discussion, closely followed by range, charging infrastructure and vehicle reliability.
For many yet to make the change, the financial hurdle is simply too high. Drivers say the initial price of an electric taxi or vehicle makes it an unrealistic purchase, even with grants or finance options. Nigel Heaslewood summed up the concern bluntly, warning of “£100,000 finance for a vehicle you’d be terrified to drive out of warranty”. Others echoed the point that taking on such debt in today’s trade environment feels risky. Jason Kauder added that if he had £70,000 to £100,000 to spare, he would invest in property rather than in a cab.
Several drivers linked cost with depreciation and limited warranty protection. Alan Ridgley highlighted the issue of “inadequate warranty”, while another cabbie worried that a key component, the battery, could be out of warranty within a few years, leaving drivers exposed to high replacement costs.
Range anxiety also remains a major obstacle when it comes to fully electric vehicles. Drivers repeatedly mentioned the loss of mileage in cold weather and the need to recharge mid-shift. Asim Suleman reported much less range in the winter, while Ian Taylor-Goudie said the combination of reduced winter range and reliance on public chargers meant lost time and lost earnings. For drivers covering long days and varied routes, the unpredictability of range can be a deal breaker, unless of course the range any given vehicle can deliver, even when cold, is more than sufficient.
Vehicle suitability adds to the frustration. David Harris pointed to the “limited choice of WAVs”, while others complained about reduced boot space and a lack of electric minibuses. Operator Picks Travel said there is no nine-seater capable of covering 600 miles without a charge. For operators needing larger vehicles, the options remain scarce.
Charging infrastructure was another recurring concern. Ricardo Carvalho described his experience as both expensive and impractical. Without a driveway, he depends on public charging, spending around £40 a week on electricity compared to £25–£30 for diesel for the same mileage. He also noted that council support for on-street charging is too slow, leaving many urban drivers with no practical charging solution.
Reliability and downtime also weighed heavily in the responses. Peter Fabian said that while he could save £500 a month by charging at home, reliability remains a sticking point. He described the rapid pace of new model releases, combined with limited testing and parts shortages, as a serious risk for anyone relying on a vehicle for daily income. “Some cases cars are in the workshop for months,” he explained, adding that his friend, a fleet manager overseeing more than 300 electric cars, sees the same issues.
Several drivers linked the shift to wider problems in the trade. Keith Edge said that with low fares from operators such as Uber, “hybrid is the way to go” for him. He added that self-charging hybrids avoid the charging costs that come with plug-in vehicles.
Some drivers simply lack confidence in the technology itself. A few expressed the view that manufacturers have focused on technology rather than practicality. One driver remarked that the industry “needs to go back to the drawing board and come up with something that works as it should”.
While the majority of cabbies recognise that electric vehicles are the future, many professional drivers believe the technology and support network are not yet ready for the demands of the taxi trade. The combination of high cost, limited range, unreliable charging access, and concerns over reliability means some drivers are waiting for a more mature market.
Until manufacturers, councils and energy providers address these issues together, the move to a fully electric taxi fleet is likely to remain slow from some that one or some of the concerns mentioned. However it must be noted, that for cabbies able to charge at home and able to factor in the running cost, electric is still very much a popular choice within the trade.
