ECV welcomes Mayor's clean air proposals

15 December 2010

Eco City Vehicles PLC

("Eco City" or "ECV" or "the Group")

ECV welcomes Mayor's clean air proposals for London licensed taxis

Eco City Vehicles PLC, the developer and supplier of eco-friendly commercial vehicles and the London licensed Mercedes Vito taxi, notes the strategy proposals published today by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to improve the capital's air quality.

These proposals are in line with ECV's strategy and are expected to benefit the Group's business over the long term as older taxis get replaced and existing fleets require more frequent inspections. Since its launch in June 2008, the Mercedes Vito has captured a 27% share of new London taxi sales. In addition, KPM Taxis, a subsidiary of ECV, is a registered MOT centre and well placed to carry out the inspections and the extra work it will bring to the dealership.

Peter DaCosta, Chief Executive of ECV, commented: "We welcome and fully support Mayor Boris Johnson's proposal to remove the older and more harmful polluting cabs from the streets of London. Under the plans, such black cabs will have to be replaced and we believe the popular Vito, which will be compliant with the Mayor's new clean air standards for London taxis, to be a premium quality choice for cabbies looking for a greener option. Over 1,200 old taxis will be immediately affected by the tighter standards and this number will increase materially as more vehicles fall outside the new age bracket. We are also confident that the growing popularity of the Vito, alongside ECV's development of an all electric taxi, will help the Mayor and London meet its European air pollution targets."

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Notes to Editors

Mayor Johnson's strategy document, Clearing the Air, includes the following proposals:

From 1 January 2012 no black cab over 15 years old will be licensed by the Taxi and Private Hire Office. Around 1,200 black cabs are likely to be more than 15 years old in 2012. The Mayor will introduce a requirement for all new taxis entering the fleet to meet the strictest vehicles standard from 1 April 2012. In addition, currently, all taxis are subject to a single annual inspection by Transport for London (TfL). 

From 2013, at the latest, instead of a once yearly overhaul, all taxis will be required to take two full MOT tests each year, but this will be done more simply and cost effectively at a local garage rather than at only three available inspection centres. This will ensure that the vehicles are operating as cleanly and efficiently as possible all the year round but with reduced bureaucracy. In addition, from January 2012 all aspiring cabbies will also be required to take a mandatory eco-driving course. Helping cabbies to drive more efficiently will not only help them to save money but also reduce emissions of pollutants and carbon dioxide.

The Mayor and TfL have also announced a £1 million fund to encourage taxi owners to upgrade to low emission vehicles such as electric black cabs. Taxi owners who are upgrading their vehicles will be able to avail of the fund to upgrade to the cleanest vehicles available. Further details of the fund will be announced in 2011.

The document can be viewed at:

http://www.london.gov.uk/media/press_releases_mayoral/mayors-tough-new-air-quality-standards-remove-dirtiest-black-cabs-londo