The response to the e-taxis has been entirely positive, according to Anjes Tjarks, Senator for Transport, and said it was "exciting to see hydrogen-powered vehicles proving themselves" in everyday use. "But regardless of battery-run or hydrogen, the vehicles no longer give off emissions in Hamburg." Bülent Aktas and M. R. Safar Nejad, managing partners of Best Taxi GmbH, stressed: "The charging infrastructure for taxis must be expanded and more hydrogen filling stations must be built and the hydrogen-powered taxis should be bookable on the "Free Now" app."
350 e-taxis approved as part of "Future Taxi"
Twenty-five hydrogen taxis have hit roads all over Hamburg, a press release said Thursday (February 16, 2023). Best Taxi GmbH's purchase of the Toyota Mirai vehicles was funded as part of the "Future Taxi" project to ease its switch to zero-emission vehicles by late 2023. Around 350 e-taxis have been licensed so far and from January 1, 2025 only zero-emission taxis will be approved under Hamburg's new climate law.
More charging infrastructure and hydrogen filling stations
More funds for e-taxis and e-inclusion taxis
The City of Hamburg has worked on the "Future Taxi" project with the taxi industry since April 2021 and in addition to federal funding has also launched two more funding phases to offset the additional costs of 460 electric taxis. Sixty e-inclusion taxis for wheelchair transport were also purchased. Another funding scheme worth EUR 1 million is due to launch in spring to purchase 360 e-taxis and five special e-inclusion taxis. Forty new e-taxi ranks with "High-Power Charging" (HPC) fast-charging points will be installed in Hamburg.
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