Tehran Eyes Electric Cabs

EghtesadOnline: Tehran’s Taxi Organization is in talks with the government to accelerate the long-awaited plan to gradually induct electric vehicles into the capital's taxi fleet and establish the required infrastructures.

News ID: ۷۴۸۴۳۰

14 September 2019

Alireza Qannadan, TTO's chief, told YJC on Tuesday that these negotiations have led to preliminary agreements, "however, much remains to be done before the implementation of the project".

According to the official, the project includes several issues, including the import of electric vehicles, establishment of charging stations and setting tariffs for electricity consumption.

“Tehran Municipality should develop the infrastructure and the Energy Ministry will set the power price for charging stations," he said, emphasizing that the main barrier in the way of the plan is the current ban on car imports, Financial Tribune reported.

Elaborating on the proposed solution, Qannadan said the import task will wholly fall on the shoulders of the private sector.

"There are several private investors ready to take steps and help the initiative progress," he added.

“The issue is currently awaiting the green light of the government.”

Qannadan added that in case the Energy Ministry sets subsidized electricity tariffs for the charging stations, the shift to electric taxis will not affect the cost of fares currently paid by passengers.

"The project will help expand urban transport services in the capital and reduce air pollution," he said.

Efforts are on track for establishing electric vehicle charging stations. In May, MAPNA Group opened Iran’s first electric vehicle charging station at Tehran's Milad Tower.

Built over 700 square meters, the station in the northwest of the capital includes a 43-kilovolt alternating current charger, plus a fast charger working under the Chademo Protocol, a trade name of a quick charging method for electric vehicles, which suits Japanese and Korean EVs such as KIA, Nissan and Mitsubishi.

The station also includes a 4.7-kv slow charger and a 5.5-kv charger, which can be used by electric motorcycles.