Taxi booking company Free Now says that it is expanding its EV-or-hybrid booking option out to Cork, Galway and Limerick following a successful launch in Dublin.
Eco booking service
The 'Eco Booking Service' gives customers the option of specifying at booking time that they'd like to be picked up by an electric or hybrid taxi. The company says that since the option was launched for Dublin customers last September, demand for eco bookings has gone up by 146 per cent. Apparently, 87 per cent of Free Now's customers are worried about climate change, and 60 per cent asked for a sustainable transport option in the app.
On top of that, 58 per cent believe that there are too many private cars on the road, and 17 per cent stress that private vehicle dependency is one of the main transport difficulties in their area. The vast majority (97 per cent) also think that businesses should make it easier for consumers to adopt greener habits through their services.
100 per cent electric taxis by 2030
The roll-out is part of Free Now's plans to have 50 per cent of all of its taxi journeys made by electric vehicles by 2025, rising to 100 per cent by 2030.
Niall Carson, General Manager at Free Now Ireland said: "We are delighted to announce the launch of Eco bookings for drivers and passengers across Cork, Galway and Limerick. Supporting the national effort to develop a more sustainable transport system across Ireland is a crucial part of our sustainability strategy, and the expansion of our electric offering is a key milestone in reaching our target of a 50 per cent EV fleet by 2025, and 100 per cent net zero emissions by 2030. The demand from our passengers for more environmentally friendly transport is extremely positive with 84 per cent saying they would choose a sustainable booking option if it was available, so we are delighted to make this a reality at no extra charge for people as we continue to expand our electric offering.
€6 million investment
"It is crucial that our drivers are also enabled to make the switch to an EV vehicle in order to support our national expansion. We have developed a dedicated EV expert team which provides our drivers with ongoing advice, webinars and support throughout their switch. We have also invested €6-million this year to help taxi drivers across the country purchase home chargers for EVs - making charging easier and encouraging more drivers to go electric. A smart and sustainable transport infrastructure will play a vital role in our journey to reach the government's target of carbon neutrality by 2050, and we hope to build on today's Eco booking launch in Cork, Galway and Limerick in the coming months with continued expansion nationwide."