DUBLIN: The taxi app Free Now has come up with a new scheme after taxi drivers in Ireland expressed concern over the cost and availability of charging infrastructure.
Free Now has announced it will invest €6 million to allow taxi drivers to buy home chargers for their electric vehicles. The taxi app said the investment will help address some of the hurdles that drivers face in moving to greener cars.
The company has also urged the government to provide financial support for taxi drivers to buy eco-friendly vehicles.
Free now plans to offer €600 rebates to 10,000 drivers who take advantage of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s home charging grant scheme as part of the EV Home Charger Match Grant.
The company will match the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s grants to help with the cost. It also aims to reduce emissions by planting more than 20,000 trees across European cities.
Free Now Ireland general manager Niall Carson said that he had written to the Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan to consider a financial model and to establish more charging infrastructure across the country. He also requested approval for more electric vehicles to be used as taxis.
Data from the ride-hailing app found that 68% of Irish drivers are unsure about switching to electric vehicles. But it is only 37% in the UK and 22% in France. In these areas, drivers are receiving extensive government support to switch to electric.