More Hybrid Taxis: 21 Million Shekels to be Budgeted for Increasing Number of Clean Taxis
By Tamar Hadar
Calcalist
The money, which will be allocated by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, is earmarked for purchasing about 1,000 hybrid taxis. Taxi drivers who have subsidized hybrid taxis will be obligated to place stickers on their taxis noting that the purchase of the vehicle was subsidized by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and KKL-JNF.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection is interested in increasing the number of hybrid taxis that travel on Israel’s highways, and together with KKL-JNF, has decided to allocate the sum of 21 million shekels for grants that will be awarded to people buying hybrid taxis from 2018 on, according to a ministry document that was made available to Calcalist.
Towards the end of 2016, the Ministry of Environmental Protection first announced its initiative to encourage the purchase of hybrid taxis. As part of the initiative, government subsidies to the tune of 30 million shekels were allocated for subsidizing the purchase of about 1,500 taxies, which meant a benefit of 20,000 shekels to anyone buying such a vehicle. The subsidy was determined by a tender that was won exclusively by Toyota importer Union Motors, which was also the only company participating in the tender.
Now, in contrast to 2017, the supply of hybrid models available for the Israeli driver has significantly increased, thanks to the introduction of new models like Hyundai Unique, which led to a decision to increase the supply of hybrid cars available for taxi drivers who want this benefit in 2018. According to documents of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, in May, an additional sum of 21 million shekels for subsidizing another 1,000 hybrid taxis will be made available. Surprisingly, in spite of the ambitious original goal of the Ministry of Environmental Protection in the first tender – 1,500 hybrid taxis – the Ministry’s document notes that to date, hundreds of Toyota hybrid taxies have been purchased. At the same time, the benefit to taxi drivers who want hybrid Toyotas is still in effect, and will continue to be in effect until the end of next year.
Another important point in the document that relates to the new tender addresses the possibility of opening it up to additional motor vehicle importers. In addition, drivers whose hybrid taxies are subsidized will be obligated to affix a sticker on their cars noting that the vehicle was purchased thanks to a subsidy provided by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and KKL-JNF.