4 ms·

I wonder if the underlying driver of this is the profits Uber/Lyft are siphoning from Taxi companies. If taxi companies can reduce operating costs in long term,

I wonder if the underlying driver of this is the profits Uber/Lyft are siphoning from Taxi companies. If taxi companies can reduce operating costs in long term, they may be able to reduce price in short term to become more competitive. (I know nothing about the taxi business, this is my thoughts from the outside looking in so I welcome correction!)

gbuk2013 10y ago
More likely the pollution issues we've had this year - most of those black cabs are diesel, whereas Uber (who in UK are always licenced private hire drivers) are usually driving the Toyota Prius hybrids. Pollution was mentioned in the earlier story about these cabs being tested in extreme winter conditions. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39121306 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39121306
- notyourwork 10y ago
  Pollution makes sense too, I didn't realize this but thanks!
- Animats 10y ago
  It's going to take a decade, maybe longer, to get rid of all the Diesel cars. That was a huge mistake.
  - cwilkes 10y ago
    As opposed to trying to ban all diesel taxis immediately and not having the law passed due to opposition? You have to start somewhere.
  - ZeroGravitas 10y ago
    As with many things there's an 80/20 thing going on. A small diesel car driven once a week by a grandmother in the suburbs is much less of an issue than a diesel cab running constantly in the city centre. There's various rules and technologies coming into force that should have a big impact.
    - Reason077 10y ago
      Exactly. Along with taxis, diesel vans are another huge contributor that must be prioritised. They're some of the dirtiest, most polluting vehicles - and many are on central London streets constantly making deliveries, etc. It would make sense to focus subsidies on getting these guys into electrics/hybrids first. Each diesel van off the road has a much bigger impact on air quality than, say, getting Grandma a subsidised Nissan LEAF.
jgrahamc 10y ago
This is a requirement from January 2018. All new taxis in London must be zero emissions vehicles: https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2015/october/mayor-and-tfl-finalise-ulez-requirements-for-taxi-and-minicab-trades https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2015/octobe... "From 1 January 2018, all taxis licensed for the first time must be zero emission capable, while new diesel taxis will not be allowed in London."
- kalleboo 10y ago
  That little word "capable" in there is pretty important. These new cars are plug-in hybrids, not pure electric. What mileage does a taxi drive in one day? Say if the car could charge to 100% during the driver's lunch break, what range would it need to stay on electric all day?
  - Brakenshire 10y ago
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/10572289/New-electric-black-cab-could-save-drivers-200-per-week.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/10... That says 200 miles a day roughly, so with morning and lunch break and a 70 mile range it would be half to 2/3rds powered by electric. A lot would depend on how fast the car can charge.

gbuk2013 10y ago

More likely the pollution issues we've had this year - most of those black cabs are diesel, whereas Uber (who in UK are always licenced private hire drivers) are usually driving the Toyota Prius hybrids. Pollution was mentioned in the earlier story about these cabs being tested in extreme winter conditions. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39121306 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39121306

notyourwork 10y ago
Pollution makes sense too, I didn't realize this but thanks!
Animats 10y ago
It's going to take a decade, maybe longer, to get rid of all the Diesel cars. That was a huge mistake.
- cwilkes 10y ago
  As opposed to trying to ban all diesel taxis immediately and not having the law passed due to opposition? You have to start somewhere.
- ZeroGravitas 10y ago
  As with many things there's an 80/20 thing going on. A small diesel car driven once a week by a grandmother in the suburbs is much less of an issue than a diesel cab running constantly in the city centre. There's various rules and technologies coming into force that should have a big impact.
  - Reason077 10y ago
    Exactly. Along with taxis, diesel vans are another huge contributor that must be prioritised. They're some of the dirtiest, most polluting vehicles - and many are on central London streets constantly making deliveries, etc. It would make sense to focus subsidies on getting these guys into electrics/hybrids first. Each diesel van off the road has a much bigger impact on air quality than, say, getting Grandma a subsidised Nissan LEAF.

jgrahamc 10y ago

This is a requirement from January 2018. All new taxis in London must be zero emissions vehicles: https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2015/october/mayor-and-tfl-finalise-ulez-requirements-for-taxi-and-minicab-trades https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2015/octobe... "From 1 January 2018, all taxis licensed for the first time must be zero emission capable, while new diesel taxis will not be allowed in London."

kalleboo 10y ago
That little word "capable" in there is pretty important. These new cars are plug-in hybrids, not pure electric. What mileage does a taxi drive in one day? Say if the car could charge to 100% during the driver's lunch break, what range would it need to stay on electric all day?
- Brakenshire 10y ago
  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/10572289/New-electric-black-cab-could-save-drivers-200-per-week.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/10... That says 200 miles a day roughly, so with morning and lunch break and a 70 mile range it would be half to 2/3rds powered by electric. A lot would depend on how fast the car can charge.