Electric vehicle market gains ground but taxi trade faces unanswered questions, says black cab fleet expert
- Perry Richardson
- Aug 7
- 2 min read
The electric vehicle (EV) market is continuing to expand, especially in London, but questions remain over how recent developments will affect cab drivers directly.
Writing in TAXI magazine, the trade columnist and fleet expert behind the “Cab You Drive” feature outlines a shifting picture for those looking to make the move to electric and explores the confusion around newly approved vehicle conversions.
“Over 25% of new car registrations are now EVs,” the article notes, citing recent DVLA figures. London leads this trend, with the bulk of new electric vehicles appearing on the capital’s roads, aided by better infrastructure, more workplace schemes, and historic buyer patterns favouring new models.
This growth, however, is having a knock-on effect. The once abundant surplus of EVs is starting to dwindle, meaning prices, especially for second-hand models, may soon begin to rise. “If you are thinking of changing your car to a second-hand EV, doing so sooner rather than later might be a good idea,” the author advises.
Within the trade, there has been a small but consistent uptick in fleet numbers. This month alone, 52 new cabs joined the ranks, keeping overall numbers steady at around 14,600. That’s still around 1,000 below the ideal figure. The writer notes that once Euro V vehicles reach the end of their 12-year lifespan and the 15-year limit for Euro VIs becomes active, cab numbers could begin to climb again, if replacements come through at a better rate.
Meanwhile, demand for pre-owned TXEs is rising sharply, while interest in TX4s appears to be waning. “I have no stock of TXEs,” the author reports, pointing to highly competitive scrappage and finance offers at LEVC’s Brewery Road as key drivers of this shift.
However, there is increasing uncertainty around the long-awaited EUV-to-EUVI conversion for TX4s. Although the conversion has now been approved by Transport for London (TfL), vital information is still missing. “Will they or will they not give the converted cabs a 15-year age limit? What is the cost of the conversion? And where are they with the Vito?” asks the author.
TfL have yet to confirm whether the full 15-year extension would be granted to converted vehicles. The conversion firm, HJS, is expected to announce pricing shortly. As for the Mercedes Vito, there is still no news.
The situation leaves some drivers in limbo, weighing up the financial risks of investing in a conversion without clear guarantees from the regulator.
For now, the advice from this fleet expert is to monitor the situation closely and keep an eye on announcements from TfL and manufacturers. With vehicle costs rising and trade levels improving, decisions made over the next few months could shape driver income and business resilience well into the decade.
