pd website news zipcharge

ZipCharge’s ground-breaking portable EV charger on track for 2023 launch

A solution to electric vehicle charging for drivers without off-road parking has moved closer to production. ZipCharge’s potentially game-changing portable EV powerbank charger, the Go, is now advancing to the validation prototype (VP) stage. In the UK alone, 8.5 million (or 40%) of car-owning…

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whitesides

Long-serving Blackpool taxi operator Whitesides adds more hybrid vehicles

One of the world’s oldest taxi firms, Blackpool-based Whiteside Taxis, has added 13 new hybrid cars to its fleet of nearly 100 vehicles. The £500,000 investment in nine Hyundai Ioniqs and four Skoda Octavia e-Tec hybrids was via The Taxi Centre, a division of…

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pd website news zip bradfiord

Bradford’s Euro Cars rebrands as Zip to reflect ‘speed and efficiency’

Bradford private hire operator Euro Cars has rebranded its operations as Zip, more than 50 years after starting operations in the Yorkshire city back in 1970. Zip said the name was chosen to reflect the speed and efficiency brought about by changes to how…

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pd website news drive doncaster

Hull operator Drive moves into Doncaster with double takeover deal and rebrand

Hull-based taxi operator Drive has built a regional powerhouse in East Yorkshire following the acquisition of two operators in Doncaster, giving it a total fleet of more than 800 cars. The takeover of both Doncaster firms, Mick’s Mini Cabs and Alpha Mini Cabs was…

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pd website news manchester delay

Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone delayed for ‘substantial’ rethink, says Burnham

Greater Manchester’s controversial Clean Air Zone has been put on temporary hold following complaints from vehicle fleet operators. Large numbers of taxi and private hire drivers had staged strikes and protests in towns throughout the region, and these have played a major role in…

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pd website news bp pulse gatwick

Uber welcomes new BP Pulse Gatwick ultra-fast EV charging hub

Uber has welcomed the launch of BP Pulse’s new Gatwick Airport fast-charging hub as a “great step” in switching drivers to fully electric vehicles. The facility is the first and to date only ultra-fast charging hub available in and around London’s second airport. It…

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pd website mfg stretfoird hub

Motor Fuel Group to add 60 more rapid charging forecourt hubs in 2022

Forecourt operator Motor Fuel Group (MFG) has announced plans to open 60 rapid-charging hubs across the UK before the end of 2022, offering a total of 350 new ultra-rapid chargers. These join the existing network of more than 100 existing MFG sites that had…

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Autocab Uber

Uber adds data privacy section for drivers and passengers to app

Uber has added new data privacy features to its app, to help users understand and control how the ride-hailing giant uses their data. The new Uber Privacy Centre is an in-app hub, located in the settings menu of the Uber Rider, Driver, and Eats…

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pd website news rochdale strike

Rochdale operators and drivers stage 24-hour strike in protest at proposed clean air rules

Greater Manchester taxi drivers have staged another protest against proposed new Clean Air Zone rules across the region. Hundreds of drivers in Rochdale staged a 24-hour strike on Monday and took to the streets in protest, gathering outside the town’s civic centre. The striking…

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pd website news addison recruit

Addison Lee guarantees new drivers a £5,000 in their first month in recruitment plan

Addison Lee has launched an aggressive driver recruitment programme as it looks to rebuild driver numbers as lockdown restrictions are lifted. The London private hire and taxi giant wants to hire 1,000 new private hire drivers this year. New recruits are being offered guaranteed…

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pd website news shell fulham

Shell opens first all-electric charging station at West London location

Shell has opened its first EV charging hub in the UK. At the former fuel station in Fulham, London, petrol and diesel pumps have been replaced with rapid charge points. This is the first time Shell has converted one of its existing sites to…

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pd website news sixt rome

Rental specialist Sixt offers on-demand ride-hailing service in Rome via Sixt app

German car rental giant Sixt is expanding its Sixt Ride European ride-hailing service in Italy. Sixt is partnering with Rome taxi company itTaxi in Italy to offer on-demand taxi services in the Italian capital via the Sixt app. The move signals greater convergence of…

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pd website news preston rules

New dress code for drivers as Preston revises rules for taxis and private hire

Preston City Council has introduced a strict dress code for drivers of both hackney and private hire vehicles operating in the area. Male drivers will be expected to wear long- or short-sleeved shirt and trousers, with the option of knee-length tailored shorts in warmer…

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pd website news daddy cabs

Fenland taxi firm adds training academy to help speed up driver recruitment

A fenland taxi company has opened a new training academy in a bid to attract more drivers into the industry. Daddy Cabs, based in March, Cambridgehire and around the Fens, has launched the DC Academy for private hire drivers, saying it hopes the move…

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pd website news london pricing

London mayor should back road pricing plan with EV investment, says Addison Lee

Addison Lee has called on London Mayor Sadiq Khan to back up his plans to charge drivers on a pence-per-mile basis with greater investment in electric vehicle infrastructure – and to clarify whether strict new proposed measures were designed to cut pollution or congestion.…

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pd website news leeds strike

Leeds drivers stage one-day strike over new rules that treat BAME drivers ‘like criminals’

Private hire drivers in Leeds staged a 24-hour strike on Monday in protest against stringent new rules proposed by Leeds City Council. The council’s new suitability rules are currently under consultation. They include new rules on which past offences can be taken into consideration…

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pd website news take me malton

North Yorkshire’s Station Taxis of Malton becomes Take Me’s first acquisition of 2022

Ambitious taxi group Take Me has added another company to its growing portfolio with the addition of North Yorkshire operator Station Taxis. The company operates around the Ryedale area and has a head office in Malton. Station taxis boss Lisa Ridsdale, who is staying…

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pd website news bolt market

Bolt raises £524 million in funding to drive expansion into grocery deliveries and e-mobility

Bolt has raised the fresh funds from Silicon Valley VC giant Sequoia Capital and retirement investor Fidelity Ride hailing company Bolt has raised a further £524 million in funds to help it expand into new sectors such as electric scooter rentals and grocery deliveries.…

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