New centrally located electric London taxi charging hub set for summer opening

The city’s biggest and most centrally located Taxi charging hub is due to open in the summer according to TAXI magazine.

The charging hub located in Baynard House Car Park on Queen Victoria Street was due to be completed by the end of March / early April. The site in the City of London is expected to go live in the summer following the completion of upgrade works.

Once live, the site will accommodate six rapid charging units for taxi use. It is unknown at this stage whether the outbreak of COVID-19 will impact any of the completion and go live dates.

Earlier this year a taxi association leader also revealed an electric charging ‘scandal’, as a centrally located charging hub containing over FORTY chargers remains unused during the peak time demand.

The Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA) uncovered the hub of 43 chargers located at a bus garage on The Cut near Waterloo. The bus garage is only 150 yards from Transport for London’s (TfL) headquarters on Blackfriars Road.

Assembly Member, Caroline Pidgeon, raised the issue with the London Mayor asking: “Has any assessment been undertaken as to how frequently these charging points are used and whether they could be used for other vehicles such as Taxis at specific times of the day?”

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, responded recently in March saying: “I understand this matter has been raised with Transport for London and that my Deputy Mayor will be meeting with the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association to discuss it further.“

Image credit: LEVC