Skip to main content

Beijing to replace all taxis with new energy vehicles

Beijing is aiming to gradually replace its petrol-powered taxis with greener new energy vehicles to help reduce air pollution starting from this year. The city currently has about 71,000 taxis in total, out of which 67,000 are conventionally powered. It has mandated that all petrol-and diesel-powered taxis being taken out of service must be replaced by electric or liquid petroleum gas (LPG) powered cars. Any new taxis should be electric or other types of new energy cars. The project is expected to cos
March 3, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
Beijing is aiming to gradually replace its petrol-powered taxis with greener new energy vehicles to help reduce air pollution starting from this year.

The city currently has about 71,000 taxis in total, out of which 67,000 are conventionally powered. It has mandated that all petrol-and diesel-powered taxis being taken out of service must be replaced by electric or liquid petroleum gas (LPG) powered cars. Any new taxis should be electric or other types of new energy cars.

The project is expected to cost taxi operators US$1.3 billion before it is complete. Basic models of fossil-fueled cars in use today cost about US$8,000 to US$10,000. Equivalent electric cars cost twice as much. Taxi drivers are also concerned about the time needed to charge an electric vehicle, coupled with the limited range, which could impact on competition.

In 2015, the London Mayor and 1466 Transport for London committed to introducing the world’s first Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in the capital in 2020. 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.

The Chinese government’s Five Year Plan 2016-2020 includes expenditure of US$2 trillion on transportation infrastructure, including railways, roads and water transportation. The country also targets the use of 200,000 new energy buses by 2020, up from more than 160,000 at the end of 2016.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • GE opens innovation centre for alternative fuel vehicles and solutions
    June 1, 2012
    GE Capital Fleet Services has announced the opening of its Vehicle Innovation Centre, to provide businesses, industry groups and researchers with first-hand experience of alternative fuel vehicles and enabling GE technologies. Showcasing the latest in a growing array of alternative fuel vehicles in electric, natural gas, propane, hydrogen and other formats, the centre gives GE’s commercial customers the opportunity to learn about and test drive numerous alternative fuel cars and trucks in a single location
  • Nice to pull out of French low emission zone pilot
    June 15, 2012
    The mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, has announced that he no longer wishes to participate in the test of Zapa zones (Zones d'Actions Prioritaires pour l'Air), the goal of which is to reduce polluting gas emissions by 10 per cent by reducing car traffic in certain zones. Along with Paris Saint-Denis, Lyon, Grenoble, Aix-en-Provence, Bordeaux and Clermont-Ferrand, Nice on France’s Mediterranean coast had signed up for a three-year government pilot programme. However, Estrosi now says that the city’s own ove
  • Asian forum calls for vehicle quotas
    April 29, 2013
    The seventh Regional Environmentally Sustainable Transport (EST) Forum in Asia, held in Bali, concluded with a commitment by Asian countries to implement sustainable transportation systems with the signing of the Bali Declaration on Vision Three Zeros — Zero Congestion, Zero Pollution and Zero Accidents. The international forum welcomed representatives from across Asia, as well as international organisations, bilateral and multilateral agencies, research organisations and sustainable transportation professi
  • Boost to infrastructure, autonomous cars in UK budget
    March 17, 2016
    The UK chancellor announced in his spring budget what he called the biggest investment, US$87.5 billion (£61 billion), in transport infrastructure in generations and is increasing capital investment in the transport network by 50 per cent over this Parliament compared to the last. The government plans to establish the UK as a global centre for excellence in connected and autonomous vehicles by establishing a US$24.1 million (£15 million) ‘connected corridor’ from London to Dover to enable vehicles to com