Taxi and private hire electric charging points

Background

Greater Manchester has a vision for a fully integrated, sustainable and green transport network. We want to make sure taxis and private hire vehicles play their part in reducing harmful air pollution and carbon emissions.

So, we’re aiming for an entirely zero-emission taxi and private hire fleet across Greater Manchester by 2029.

We’d like drivers and operators to work with us to help reach this goal. Please read more below about our proposals for the region’s electric vehicle (EV) charging network and to give your views.

Expanding the electric vehicle charging network

One way we can support a move to zero-emission-capable taxis and private hire vehicles is by expanding Greater Manchester’s publicly owned electric vehicle (EV) charging network. This would help give taxi and private hire drivers and operators who are considering upgrading to EVs access to charging points where and when they need them.

The new operator of our network, Amey, has launched a new charging brand in Greater Manchester – Be.EV. Amey has upgraded more than 100 existing charging points and is installing 25 new rapid chargers.

Taxi and private hire vehicle chargers

We’re also introducing Be.EV electric charging points for use only by taxi and private hire drivers. We’ve secured £2.4m from the government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) and other sources to install 30 of these rapid chargers across Greater Manchester.

These charging points are the start of our investment in EV in Greater Manchester to support the taxi and private hire trade – we’re also bidding for funding for a further 40 dedicated taxi and private hire chargers.

Choosing charger locations

For the 30 funded charging points, we’re planning to install three sets of chargers clustered in 10 locations – one in each local authority area in Greater Manchester. We’ve identified more than 100 possible sites for the chargers.

In planning where to install charging points for taxis and private hire vehicles, we’ve looked at what has worked well in other cities and regions. Siting chargers on private land can be an expensive and lengthy process, so we’re proposing that all the charging points are installed on public land owned by local councils or Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).

Through previous engagement with taxi and private hire drivers and operators, car parks have been identified as some of the most popular locations for chargers. We’ve made sure that all proposed sites are open 24 hours a day for both hackney and private hire drivers.

Locations also need to be easily connected to the electricity grid, have space to accommodate the charging infrastructure and avoid creating queues and road congestion.

Have your say

We want to hear the views of the taxi and private hire trade on the possible sites before confirming the final 10 locations, so the Be.EV network has chargers in the right places and drivers can consider upgrading to electric vehicles with confidence.

To give your feedback, please click on the locations on the map below. This will give further site information and open an online form where you can post your comments.

We’d also like your views on the charger site selection process and your opinions of electric vehicles.

  • Please rate the following issues in terms of importance when looking for a good EV charging experience.
    1 - Not at all important
    2 - Not important
    3 - Neither important nor unimportant
    4 - Quite important
    5 - Very important

    In your local area

  • Please rate the following issues in terms of importance when looking for a good EV charging experience.
    1 - Not at all important
    2 - Not important
    3 - Neither important nor unimportant
    4 - Quite important
    5 - Very important.

    Greater Manchester in general

  • Considering the information provided, to what extent do you believe we have made suitable suggestions for locations?
    1 - Strongly disagree
    2 - Disagree to some extent
    3 - Neither agree nor disagree
    4 - Agree to some extent
    5 - Strongly agree

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Next steps

All comments received will be considered before deciding on the final sites for the charging points, with one cluster of three chargers in each local authority area. We’ll give an update here in due course.

Be.EV membership scheme and charging tariff

We’re developing a free-to-join Be.EV membership scheme and, after more than seven years offering free charging, the network will need to move to ‘pay-as-you-charge’. This is so at least some of the ongoing operation and maintenance costs of the network can be covered by users.

The timing for the introduction of charging tariffs has not yet been confirmed.

In the meantime, please email or call us using the contact details at the bottom of the page if you have any questions.