Hamburg is set to become the first German state to ban combustion engine taxis from 2025. According to the city’s transport minister, Anjes Tjarks, the move is aimed at accelerating efforts to tackle climate change in the transportation sector. Tjarks believes that the ban on combustion engine taxis is a positive step in the right direction. Switching to electric and hydrogen-powered taxis has already resulted in an annual reduction of 2,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. If the entire taxi fleet in Hamburg goes electric, this figure could rise to 25,000 tonnes per year.
Hamburg launched the “Future Taxi” project in 2021 to encourage the transition to locally emission-free taxis. According to officials, over 350 such vehicles are already on the city’s streets, 25 of which are hydrogen-powered. Hamburg’s taxi fleet already has the highest share of low-emission vehicles in Germany, with 12 percent of vehicles being locally emission-free.
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The high demand for locally emission-free taxis demonstrates “that the industry is willing and ready to leave the combustion engine era behind,” said Tjarks. From January 1, 2025, combustion engine taxis will no longer be allowed to operate in Hamburg. Tjarks noted that electric taxis have proven to be reliable, comfortable, and cheaper to operate than combustion engine vehicles.
Industry representatives also praised the “Future Taxi” project’s success. “We firmly believe that the future of our industry is electric and that this transition date is achievable,” said Thomas Lohse, CEO of Hansa Taxi.
According to Alexander Mönch, CEO of FREE NOW Germany & Austria, Hamburg is once again setting the tone for the transportation transition in Germany. He believes that the key to success lies in the close collaboration between all stakeholders in urban mobility. Almost 80 percent of locally emission-free taxis available in Hamburg are already being provided by FREE NOW, and feedback from both entrepreneurs and passengers has been positive.
