‘FUTURE AS TAXI DRIVER IN QUESTION’: TfL silence over approved retrofit system age limits leaving more London taxi drivers in limbo
- Perry Richardson
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
More London black taxi drivers are warning that continued silence from Transport for London (TfL) over vehicle policy decisions is creating financial uncertainty and placing careers at risk, as pressure mounts over the stalled Euro 5 to Euro 6 conversion programme and tightened age limits.
Drivers say the absence of clear direction from TfL and the Mayor of London has left them unable to plan, invest or make informed decisions about their future in the trade. The issue centres on the reduction of the maximum age limit for Euro 5 taxis from 15 years to 12 years, alongside delays and uncertainty around an approved retrofit scheme that would allow compliant vehicles to remain in service longer.
The latest London licensed black taxi driver with 10 years in the trade to talk to TaxiPoint about the policy shift, Bobby Holley, has said it has already removed three years of viable working life from many vehicles with no meaningful mitigation. He said Euro 5 owners initially supported the proposed conversion to Euro 6 standards but had little confidence it would be delivered on time.
“TfL have delayed the roll out of this conversion as long as they can and now could even not go ahead as TfL are still not giving any updates,” Holley said. “For me personally this has put my future as a taxi driver in question.”
Drivers and suppliers warn prolonged lack of decisions on Euro 5 conversions and age limits is undermining livelihoods and investment confidence
Holley said the cost of switching to an electric LEVC taxi, whether rented or purchased, was unaffordable for some drivers under current conditions. He added that higher vehicle costs would force longer working hours while reducing take home income, undermining the sustainability of the job for those unable to commit more working hours to the role to maintain profit levels.
Drivers argue that had the conversion been implemented as expected, it would have provided a short-term bridge allowing owners to continue operating while saving towards newer vehicles and allowing the second-hand electric market to grow. Holley said similar retrofit solutions had been rolled out in other UK cities, adding to frustration that London drivers were still waiting for clarity.
Concerns are also being raised by suppliers involved in the programme. Robin Trompetter, Chief Executive of HJS Group, said the lack of a decision was putting an already approved retrofit project for TX4 black cabs at risk, despite the technology being certified and ready for deployment.
“When authorities don’t decide, everyone pays the price,” Trompetter said. He added that doing nothing was itself a decision and was causing real economic damage, both for taxi owners and for companies that had invested in compliant emissions solutions.
Trompetter warned that prolonged inaction was creating planning uncertainty, blocking investment and threatening jobs across the supply chain. He said that if private businesses operated with the same lack of timelines and clarity, they would quickly fail.
TaxiPoint approached TfL for comment a week ago and have so far received no reply.
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