Traffic turnaround: Hamburg bans combustion engine taxis

Two years ago, Hamburg began promoting the switch to locally emission-free taxis with the "Future Taxi" project. More than 350 of them are currently on the road, making up twelve percent of the taxi fleet. 25 new hydrogen taxis, the first in the city, have also just been put into service. But this is not enough to bring about a real change that could lead the industry to a more environmentally friendly operation. Hamburg's transport senator Anjes Tjarks (Greens) wants to do more to make taxi transport more sustainable in terms of climate protection. 

From 2025, Hamburg will be the first federal state to ban new taxis with combustion engines from the city. In fact, it is already possible to save 2000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually by switching to electric and hydrogen-powered taxis. Electrification of the entire fleet, Tjarks explains, would then lead to CO2 savings of up to 25,000 tonnes a year - with significant benefits for air quality and the health of citizens. An ambitious goal, perhaps, but still achievable within the framework of the project. 

Transport Senator Tjarks is convinced that the phasing out of internal combustion engines for Hamburg's taxis is and can be a good example of a successful project. "We hope that this decision in Hamburg will have a signal effect - for Germany and all of Europe." For this, the industry is "ready and willing to leave the age of the combustion engine behind". Because the demand in the car industry for locally emission-free taxis is growing. Technical developments in the electric sector mean that companies can look forward to reliable - and, compared to internal combustion taxis, also cheaper - models. Therefore, a complete electrification of the industry no longer sounds too unrealistic even for many taxi drivers and industry representatives. "We firmly believe that the future of our industry is electric and that this conversion date is feasible," said Hansa Taxi CEO Thomas Lohse in this regard. 

It is certainly important that municipal and private companies set a good example and show that electric conversion is possible - and still allows the comforts of conventional mobility. If on the one hand the "Future Taxi" project provides an important impetus and could spread to other cities, on the other hand this equally invites citizens to believe in electric mobility as the key to a clean, climate-friendly transport future. After all, this is a step that will be inevitable sooner or later. Especially in view of the future phasing out of internal combustion engines at the European level - as well as the numerous environmental zones and diesel driving bans - internal combustion cars will be forced off the roads in the next few years.  

However, a suitable infrastructure expansion should definitely take place in Hamburg - and in all other cities that will join the project - in order to meet the charging needs of the electric cars and consequently to continue to guarantee an efficient taxi service. In any case, the success of the project is of great importance for the entire e-sector, as it can demonstrate the potential of the electric motor to citizens. Will more and more electric cars, starting with taxis, be seen in German cities in the future?