Liverpool firm Gawith Taxis have had charging points installed at its site as the company aims to convert its fleet of black cabs to electric vehicles. The EV charging points will be available for the public to use after Gawith Taxis was awarded a grant from Mersey Travel to have them installed.
Having the largest black taxi fleet in the north west, Gawith Taxis is looking to reduce its costs and impact on the environment by phasing in electric models. Drivers will reduce operating costs to 2-4 pence per mile – compared to the current 15-20 pence for diesels – as the firm runs its two new Nissan e-NV200 Combi’s.
These models will run along routes between Liverpool Lime Street Station and the city’s John Lennon Airport, and between train stations and Anfield Stadium on matchdays.
Fitted by Franklin Energy, the three dual wall mounted charge points are on Gawith Taxis’ site on Kensington, just outside of Liverpool’s city centre. THe company will provide back office support too for the 7kW units, with public users charged a small fee based on kWh use. The charge points will be shown on Franklin Energy’s LiFe network which goes live soon.
Founder of Franklin Energy, Rob Byrne, said: “Gawith’s are the first taxi company in Merseyside to show appetite in going electric. This will have economic, social and environmental benefits for Liverpool City region and will help accelerate the city’s bid for the OLEV electric taxi pilot scheme. We are delighted to support Gawith’s on this forward thinking project.”
