eVolt charge points support taxi firm with environmental goals

6th February 2017

Anna Flockett

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The installation of three chargers to assist a Kirkcaldy-based taxi business achieve its environmental ambitions, has been completed by eVolt, the Electric Vehicle (EV) charge point supplier, which will help support its five new private hire Nissan Leaf EVs, which are now fully operational.

Taxi Central has installed one of eVolt’s Rapid Chargers, which can charge the 30kWh Nissan Leafs to 80% battery life in 30 minutes, to provide on-shift EVs with essential charging capability; and two eVolt AC 7kW Wall-mount Chargers that fully charge the EVs in around 5 hours.

“This charging structure is working excellently, and ensures that our new EVs are well-supported,” said Mike Brown, Owner of Taxi Central. “We are a 24 hour business and conscious of our environmental foot print. EVs are cheaper to run in the long-term and have a lower maintenance cost, particularly since our taxis travel over 1,000m a week.”

Brown continued: “eVolt’s chargers are high quality and very reliable, the installation was efficient, and its support network of local engineers gives me peace of mind that should there be a problem, it will be quickly resolved.”

The funding for the charge points came through the Energy Saving Trust (EST) and Transport Scotland, and eVolt achieved its status on the latest EST Scotland-wide charge point framework in 2016.

Matthew Eastwood, Head of Transport - Scotland at EST, said EST is pleased to have provided grant funding on behalf of Transport Scotland to support this installation: “By facilitating the introduction of EVs into the Taxi Central fleet, these charge points will help Kirkcaldy’s residents experience the benefits of EVs, reduce their exposure to harmful emissions and support the Scottish Government’s aim of decarbonising Scotland’s road transport.”

Stephen Rennie, Business Development Manager - Scotland at eVolt, said the Private Hire and Taxi market is one in which eVolt is enjoying considerable success: "More and more businesses are bringing EVs into their fleets as they are seeing its benefits in affordability and sustainability.

“Firms like Taxi Central understand and appreciate that eVolt chargers perform reliably and quickly when used multiple times, and help protect the environment as well as revenues.”