Transport for London sets out plans for all newly licensed minicabs to be fully electric by 2028

Transport for London is consulting on a major change to private hire vehicle licensing. From 2028, newly licensed minicabs would need to be fully electric, removing petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles from new licences. The aim is to reduce pollution and support a zero-emission fleet.

For example, a petrol-powered minicab applying for a new licence from 2028 would not meet the proposed rule. A wheelchair-accessible vehicle would receive extra time and could continue under the proposal until July 2030. The change targets new licences rather than immediately removing every existing vehicle.

The plan reflects a fleet that is already changing. More than 70 per cent of London's private hire vehicles are zero-emission capable, but only 35.5 per cent are fully electric. TfL expects the shift to reduce NOx and CO2 emissions, while its consultation remains open until December 2.

A private hire vehicle, or minicab, is a vehicle licensed to carry passengers through a private hire service. It provides a door-to-door journey and is usually arranged in advance. The article highlights its importance where public transport has gaps or cannot meet customers' needs.

In general, the main difference from a traditional London black cab is how passengers hire it. A black cab can normally accept street hails or wait at an authorised taxi rank. A minicab normally requires a booking through an operator or app and cannot be hailed in the same way. These licensing categories are distinct.

The proposed electric rule concerns newly licensed private hire vehicles, not necessarily black cabs. TfL reports 94,661 private hire vehicles in London. More than 70 per cent are zero-emission capable, although many still depend on petrol or diesel engines.

TfL's September figures counted 94,661 licensed private hire vehicles in London. The fleet is already largely zero-emission capable, meaning vehicles can run on electricity, but that does not mean every vehicle is fully electric. The distinction matters because some vehicles still use petrol or diesel engines.

Fully electric vehicles accounted for 35.5 per cent of the fleet. Plug-in hybrids accounted for another 35.2 per cent. The remaining share was 29.3 per cent, calculated from the two percentages given in the article. This remainder includes other vehicle types, including vehicles that are not zero-emission capable.

Together, the electric and plug-in hybrid shares total 70.7 per cent, matching TfL's statement that more than 70 per cent are zero-emission capable. TfL wants the fleet to move beyond capability and toward vehicles that produce no tailpipe emissions while operating.

The proposed rules would change both vehicle eligibility and licence renewals. From March 2027, private hire vehicles could no longer remain licensed after reaching 10 years old. Owners would also have only 12 months to renew an expired taxi or private hire vehicle licence, rather than the current two years.

After that 12-month period, the vehicle would be treated as a new application. It would therefore need to meet the latest licensing requirements. TfL also proposes stopping approval for new systems that convert vehicles to LPG or CNG, along with new exhaust emission-reduction systems.

From 2028, newly licensed private hire vehicles would need to be fully electric. Wheelchair-accessible vehicles would have until July 2030 to switch. These changes would push owners toward newer, cleaner vehicles and reduce the options for extending older or conventionally fuelled vehicles' licences.

TfL forecasts that the proposed licensing changes could substantially reduce emissions from London's private hire vehicles. In the first decade, nitrogen oxide emissions could fall by 9 per cent, while carbon dioxide emissions could drop by 35 per cent. These reductions are linked to accelerating the move toward fully electric vehicles.

The longer-term forecast is much larger. Over 18 years, TfL estimates that CO2 and NOx emissions could each fall by as much as 97 per cent. The mechanism is gradual fleet replacement: new licences would increasingly go to fully electric vehicles, while older vehicles would leave the licensed fleet under tighter age rules.

These are forecasts, not measured results. The article says the changes could help tackle air pollution and protect health. NOx can worsen asthma and other respiratory conditions, while lower CO2 emissions would support efforts to address London's contribution to the climate crisis.

A plug-in hybrid combines an electric system with a petrol or diesel engine. When its fuel engine runs, it burns fuel and sends exhaust gases through the tailpipe. LPG and CNG vehicles also use combustible fuels, so their engines produce exhaust emissions even though those fuels differ from petrol or diesel.

A fully electric vehicle operates using electricity stored in a battery and an electric motor. It has no combustion engine and therefore does not produce exhaust from a tailpipe while driving. This is why TfL distinguishes fully electric vehicles from vehicles that are merely zero-emission capable.

The article notes that 35.2 per cent of London's private hire fleet is plug-in hybrid, while 35.5 per cent is fully electric. TfL wants to accelerate the shift to the latter. It also proposes stopping approval of new LPG, CNG and exhaust-reduction conversion systems.

Nitrogen oxides, or NOx, are gases formed mainly when fuel is burned in engines. They are air pollutants. The article says NOx can worsen asthma and other respiratory conditions, so reducing it could improve London's air and protect health. TfL forecasts a 9 per cent reduction from private hire vehicles in the first decade.

Carbon dioxide, or CO2, is a gas released when petrol, diesel and other fuels are burned. It is also produced naturally, but human emissions add to the greenhouse effect and drive climate change. Unlike NOx, CO2 is not described in the article as directly worsening asthma, but it matters for the climate crisis.

TfL forecasts a 35 per cent CO2 reduction in the first decade and up to 97 per cent for both CO2 and NOx over 18 years. The proposed electric transition is intended to address both problems.