Hangzhou taxis to go electric in five years

The fuel taxis in the downtown area of Hangzhou are expected to be replaced with electric vehicles in five years, according to the public transportation bureau of Hangzhou, local media reported on Feb 22.

Starting March 21, taxi companies will not be able to register new fuel vehicles while current fuel vehicles should be retired gradually.

It is expected that over 30 percent of fuel taxis will be replaced with electric ones before the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022. The ratio should reach 60 percent by 2024, when over 6,000 fuel vehicles should have already been retired.

By 2027, all taxis in the downtown area, which includes Shangcheng, Gongshu, Xihu, and Binjiang districts, should be electric.

A subsidy of 30,000 yuan ($4,737) will be granted to taxi companies for each new electric taxi they register during the five-year period.

The city's environment protection department said that the transformation will hopefully reduce an annual carbon emission of over 2,200 metric tons.

A electric taxi driver surnamed Wang introduced that he saves 2,000 yuan in fuel cost every month.

According to the Hangzhou branch of the State Grid, as of the end of 2021, Hangzhou has 1,286 charging stations and 20,319 public charging poles, which are sufficient for the increasing of electric vehicle.