Tag: #taxi

CCPC calls on Government to open up Irish taxi market

New research from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) highlights a supply shortage in the taxi sector as four in 10 people who tried to get a taxi in December reported difficulties doing so.

With a significant share of taxi users wanting the choice of ride-hailing (49%), the CCPC is calling for the removal of regulatory barriers to facilitate entry of these services. Ride-hailing platforms, such as Uber or Bolt, connect private drivers to passengers via apps. This would mean allowing these private drivers to provide services using their own cars, subject to appropriate regulatory safeguards.

According to the research, 57% of those who expressed an opinion believe that there are not enough taxis available in their area. However, there are stark differences across geographical locations.

While 56% of those living in Dublin believed there are enough taxis in their area, only 28% of those outside of Dublin agree. This drops to 21% for those living in Connacht or Ulster.

Participants were asked whether they would like the choice of accessing ride-hailing services, subject to regulatory requirements.

While 49% of taxi users surveyed would like the option of ride-hailing services, this figure rose to 57% for those who believe there are not enough taxis in their area.

When asked whether they would prefer a fixed fare or a metered fare, 60% said they would support a fixed fare option.

The research also found that 53% of respondents surveyed tried to get a taxi in December 2025. Two in five who tried to get a taxi in December experienced problems, with 27% saying they had to stop looking as no taxis were available.

The research comes ahead of the National Transport Authority’s (NTA) regulatory assessment of the licensing of dispatch operators, which is due to begin later this year.

Brian McHugh, CCPC chair said: 

“Regulatory barriers in the taxi market have failed to facilitate innovations that have flourished in other countries and consumers are suffering as a result. Our research shows a clear preference for more choice among consumers who are not getting the service they need.

“This is not about abandoning oversight or regulation.  Any new entrants could and should be regulated to maintain high service and safety standards. Consumers and businesses deserve an innovative, functioning taxi sector that provides choice. Consumers shouldn’t be faced with long waits or the possibility of staying home due to a lack of taxi availability.

“The CCPC is calling on the Government to remove key regulatory barriers in the taxi market so that it can be more responsive to consumer needs and align better with how transport systems are evolving all over the world. The goal is to achieve a balance that protects consumers and ensures access, while also allowing competition and innovation to improve the market. We look forward to engaging with the NTA in their consultation process and to exploring all solutions that might increase capacity and choice.

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LEVC’s Zero-Emission Capable TX Taxi Hits One Billion Miles Driven Milestone

London EV Company (LEVC) is proud to announce that its revolutionary zero-emission capable (ZEC) TX taxi has achieved another significant milestone, estimated to have driven an incredible one billion miles since its launch in 2018.

With over 11,000 TX – the world’s most advanced ZEC taxi – sold globally, the taxi parc has achieved a staggering collective 1,000,000,000 mileage figure*, equivalent to travelling over 40,000 times around the Earth. What’s more, this has been achieved using TX’s revolutionary eCity range extender technology, which compared with the diesel TX4 has reduced the amount of CO2 from entering the atmosphere through driven exhaust emissions by 300,000,000 kgs.

LEVC manufactures the electric TX at its state-of-the-art facility in Ansty, Coventry, the TX’s eCity technology providing a pure EV range of up to 78 miles and a total range-extended capacity of 333 miles, making it ideally suited to operating in and commuting to urban environments.

No stranger to attaining landmarks, in 2022 the TX overtook the TX4 in its share of London’s taxi fleet and now represents more than 60% of all black cabs in London, with over 8,600 ZEC TXs on the streets of the nation’s capital.

LEVC TXs typically cover 20 – 30,000 miles per year, but some drivers really do go the extra mile. Gary Bowers, a 60-year-old taxi driver from Glasgow, has travelled over 280,000 miles in his, one of the highest mileages for a TX taxi globally. Exceeding the 232,000-mile distance from the Earth to the Moon, Gary and his TX have also eclipsed the 268,553 miles which NASA’s Orion spacecraft reached at its furthest point from the Earth, the greatest distance a spacecraft rated for human travel has ever been from its home planet.

While such impressive statistics clearly demonstrate the TX’s durability, reliability, environmentally beneficial and fit-for-purpose capability of its revolutionary eCity range extender powertrain, drivers also love the vehicle’s manoeuvrability, visibility, and ease of driving. For passengers, the quietness, smoothness, and panoramic roof – which makes the whole cabin area feel more spacious – are continually singled out for praise, as are the vehicle’s comprehensive accessibility features.

The TX taxi is an inclusive vehicle for all, regardless of age or disability. Featuring flexible space for up to six passengers, it includes an integrated wheelchair ramp enabling TX to accommodate a forward-facing wheelchair – the only taxi of its kind to do so. Additional accessibility features include a hearing induction loop, braille switches, a step, swivel chair and high visibility handles.

Chris Allen, LEVC Managing Director, commented: “This incredible 1,000,000,000 miles-driven achievement is testament not only to the durability and reliability of TX but the hard work that professional taxi drivers undertake. Designed, engineered, and manufactured from the ground up to be the world’s most advanced electric taxi, LEVC has ensured the TX is the ideal vehicle for drivers, passengers, and the planet. Since its launch, TX has set the benchmark for urban e-mobility, with more than 300,000,000 kgs of CO2 saved from being emitted into the atmosphere through exhaust emissions.

“The Plug-in-Taxi-Grant (PiTG) has been a key driving force in enabling drivers to make the switch to TX, with 60% of the fleet in London now zero-emission capable. With the current scheme set to end on 5th April, we urge taxi drivers considering making the transition to an electric taxi to buy ahead of the deadline and benefit from the £6,000 saving.”

With an investment of over £1 billion from the Geely Holding Group since 2013, LEVC has created the UK’s first dedicated manufacturing plant for electric vehicles. Building on this investment, LEVC recently announced its new strategy that will see it grow beyond manufacturing the TX, to become a leading zero-carbon mobility technology company.

FREE NOW Europe is the is the first private mobility platform to integrate public transport tickets into its app

FREE NOW, Europe’s  Mobility Super App, announces at the Web Summit 2022 a major milestone: users can now book public transport services through its app as well as taxis, private cars, eScooters, eBikes, eMopeds, and carsharing. As a result, FREE NOW offers all modes of transport from a single source, strengthening its position as Europe’s leading mobility platform with the largest amount of travel options in one app.

The first cooperation enabling access to public transport via the FREE NOW app was signed with Rheinbahn in Germany. FREE NOW users will be able to book tickets for buses, trams, and underground trains directly in the FREE NOW app for all tariff zones of the Rhine-Ruhr Public Transport Association (VRR). The integration completes FREE NOW’s offering of on-demand mobility in one of Germany’s most important metropolitan regions. In fact, with almost 1,100 lines, around 7.8 million inhabitants, and an area of around 7,300 square kilometers, the cooperation with FREE NOW provides access to Europe’s biggest transport network and the largest urban transport area. That includes major German cities like Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Essen, Bochum, Wuppertal, and Duisburg.

To begin with, users will be able to buy single tickets, day passes, and 48-hour passes. The technical integration has already begun. The ticket sales are possible thanks to a partnership with the Dutch aggregator Tranzer.

Further partnerships with other transport companies in Germany and across Europe are planned for 2023.

FREE NOW: Having expanded since 2020, this public transport integration completes urban mobility offering

FREE NOW has continuously expanded its own mobility offering for its users since 2020, in partnership with leading mobility players in Germany and Europe. Through this, the FREE NOW app brings together more than 400,000 vehicles in Europe. This consists of  ride-hailing services like taxis and private cars, as well as carsharing, eScooters, eMopeds, and eBikes.

Thomas Zimmermann, CEO at FREE NOW, comments on the new partnership: “We’re pleased that we’re now the first private mobility platform to be able to offer our users public transport tickets in the biggest population and the largest urban transport area in Europe. This is an important next stage for us and, for the first time, we’re enabling end-to-end ticketing for different modes of transport in our app. Linking different mobility offers is crucial to succeed in transforming transportation in Europe. FREE NOW actively supports this as a partner of public transport. Our goal is to make urban mobility in Europe more sustainable, intelligent, and interconnected.”

Commenting on the announcement Niall Carson, General Manager for FREE NOW Ireland said, “The integration of public transport into the FREE NOW app in Germany is a key milestone for the business, and reflective of our ambitions to make multi-modal approaches to transport more accessible across the markets in which we operate. Our goal in Ireland is to mirror the multi-modal progress of our European counterparts like Germany moving forward – building on our first integration of micro-mobility in the Irish market this year with our TIER eBike partnership in Dublin. We intend to continue expanding our offering and transport solutions with eScooters on the horizon along with other mobility options, helping to support a shift in our national approach to daily transport – from car-centric to multi-modal, flexible and sustainable.”

The new travel option is primarily aimed at remote workers who only travel to their place of work occasionally, as well as business travellers or tourists. For example, almost 30% of all FREE NOW passengers use the app in cities they travel to occasionally. As a platform that’s active across Europe, the company can  contribute to strengthening both public transport and the environmental alliance in the long term.

FREE NOW users do not need to create a new account to book and pay for public transport. They can simply use their existing customer account.

Multi mobility app FREE NOW announced as official Mobility App Partner for Munster Rugby until 2025

Ireland’s leading multi mobility app FREE NOW is partnering with Munster Rugby as its Official Mobility App Partner until 2025. The new partnership will bring FREE NOW and Munster Rugby together for the 2022-23 season and over the next three years.  

This announcement builds on FREE NOW’s commitment to support local communities and organisations across the country by providing them with flexible and sustainable transport solutions to help meet Ireland’s changing transport needs. 

Since launching its sustainable ECO booking (EV/hybrid) option on the app last year for passengers in Cork, the uptake of green journeys on the FREE NOW app has grown by 430% with 28% of the fleet in Cork being ECO. This function will be available to Munster Rugby supporters, staff and players, facilitating more sustainable transport choices in line with the team’s matches and travel requirements. 

As part of the partnership, fans attending the upcoming matches will be able to participate in competitions for a chance to win FREE NOW vouchers. 

Speaking at the launch of the partnership, Regional Development Manager for FREE NOW, Denis Fogarty said, “We are delighted to announce our new partnership with Munster Rugby for the next three years and as a former Munster player myself for over 12 years, I am really excited about this new sponsorship and to see FREE NOW supporting sport in the Munster region. 

FREE NOW has been providing public transport solutions for passengers in Cork for almost 10 years now and we look forward to expanding our offering further in the coming years in the region, helping more people get from A to B thanks to our fleet of driver partners across the country.”

Welcoming the news of the partnership, CEO of Munster Rugby, Ian Flanagan said, “We are delighted to partner with FREE NOW  in expanding our offering to our support base. Working with an organisation with a shared sense of community and sustainability at the centre of its offering is hugely important to us and we look forward to the next three years with FREE NOW.”

To find more about Munster Rugby please visit https://www.munsterrugby.ie/

FREE NOW launches “Medical” initiative offering Healthcare Heroes 50% off taxi fares to help battle against COVID-19 #FreeNow #Medical #Healthcare

Ireland’s leading e-hailing app FREE NOW has created a new “Medical” booking option which offers a 50% taxi-fare reduction to help the travel of healthcare heroes and support medical staff in the national fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new mechanism allows vital healthcare workers to select the new “Medical” fleet-type option on the app to book their taxi and to get 50% off their fare. These critical staff then just need to show their medical ID to drivers at the start of their trip, with FREE NOW taking no commission from drivers for these trips.

It follows a FREE NOW survey of its drivers across Ireland, that showed an overwhelming 87% expressing their desire to directly support healthcare staff in their vital work.

The new support will be available from mid-morning today to all front-line medical practitioners, supporting healthcare workers as well as those working in primary care services, including porters, cleaners and hospital receptionists.

 

In a recent survey, FREE NOW drivers have highlighted some of the precautions they are taking to ensure their cars remain clean. These include providing passengers with tissues and keeping the windows slightly open, cleaning their car after every trip, including  wiping down door handles and seats as well as only accepting card or app payments to limit the use of cash.

Alan Fox, FREE NOW General Manager, Ireland, said: “The health and safety of passengers, driver partners and staff is our top priority and we are now looking at new ways to adapt the fleet of 14,000 taxis to meet the COVID-19 challenge across Ireland.  This new initiative will support the movement of vital healthcare workers performing critical duties, as well as helping drivers to generate income in this incredibly challenging time. We are already working with the HSE as an approved transport supplier to aid its critical work and we are actively guiding drivers and partners on the transport-specific hygiene measures required in line with HSE, Department of Health and government guidance. It is a testament to FREE NOW drivers that they are willing to step up, even when their earnings are taking a hit in these uncertain times to keep Ireland moving.”   

Joe Herron, president of the Irish Taxi Drivers’ Federation, said: “Taxi drivers are extremely glad to be able to play their part in the COVID-19 fight. Our services have been badly hit by the virus and our profession is particularly vulnerable, so this FREE NOW initiative is to be welcomed for multiple reasons.  Taxi drivers have been deemed an essential service by the government, and this initiative will help vital healthcare workers to get to their critically important jobs as well as supporting struggling drivers in this, the most difficult of times.”

FREE NOW has recommended that drivers and passengers adhere to HSE, Department of Health and government guidance when travelling, with drivers advised to disinfect their cars regularly and to switch to card payment only. The company has temporarily turned off its Match taxi-sharing service.

FREE NOW is offering a similar service in Spain, Poland, Romania and the UK and is looking at how this can be rolled out to the 10 countries it operates in across Europe. The “Healthcare Heroes” booking option is available for all healthcare workers from today and will run in the FREE NOW app for the foreseeable future.