Gloucestershire County Council seeking taxi driver input on electric vehicle transition

Image credit: LEVC

Gloucestershire County Council has launched a consultation with taxi and private hire drivers to assess how best to support a shift towards electric vehicles (EVs) across the licensed trade.

The authority said it is exploring how they can better support local taxi and private hire drivers in transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs) and is seeking feedback on operational realities including running costs, vehicle reliability and access to charging infrastructure.

Responses from drivers will be used to identify key barriers to EV adoption and to determine what financial support, incentives or infrastructure improvements may be required to accelerate uptake within the sector.

The council also confirmed the findings will inform future policy development, funding bids and decisions around expanding local charging provision, with the aim of ensuring “any transition to cleaner vehicles works for drivers, not against them”.

Council survey aims to identify barriers, costs and infrastructure needs facing licensed drivers

The short survey, which takes around five minutes to complete, is anonymous and forms part of early-stage research into how the county can align environmental targets with the practical needs of the taxi and private hire industry.

Local authorities across the UK are increasingly examining how to decarbonise licensed vehicle fleets, with rising pressure to balance net zero commitments against the financial and operational constraints faced by drivers and operators.

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