A network of 88 rapid chargers are currently being installed across West Yorkshire, 20 of which will be within the Bradford Council area. This follows the West Yorkshire Combined Authority winning funding from the Office for Low Emission Vehicles for Taxi infrastructure funding. The 50 kW electric vehicle rapid charge points will be able to charge up a vehicle in less than an hour, and these will be free to use until October 2021.
Each charge point will have two bays – one for Private Hire Vehicles and Hackney Carriage taxis and the other for general public use. The installation of the rapid chargers will encourage taxis and other drivers to convert to becoming electric, with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality.
The energy used to power the charge points is sourced from renewable energy. The first rapid charger was unveiled in Bradford in August 2019, with the whole network due to be completed by March 2020.
