They may be a month late, but the island's first all-electric
taxi fleet can roll out early next month, after some glitches are
ironed out, said new operator HDT Singapore Taxi.
Managing
director James Ng said yesterday that technical issues with a
driver management system were being addressed.
The system
will be used to track the fare earnings and targets of taxi
drivers, who are employed full-time - a unique practice in the
industry. The other five taxi firms, which operate a combined
28,000 cabs, rent out their taxis to hirers.
Mr Ng told The
Straits Times he expects the first 10 e-taxis - manufactured by
Shenzhen-based battery and automaker BYD (Build Your Dreams) - to
start plying the roads in a couple of weeks. The fleet will be
progressively ramped up to 100 next year.
The flag-down
fare will be $3.90, with a meter rate of 25 cents for every 400m
for the first 10km, and every 350m thereafter, he said.
While this is
pricier than the 22-cent meter rate charged by the bulk of the
taxis here, he is optimistic commuters will take to the green
rides. "For a 10km ride, it's about 75 cents more, but commuters
will get to experience an electric car, which is more comfortable
as they ride in total silence, compared to a car with a combustion
engine," he said.
While HDT's
e-taxi operation is part of a government electric-vehicle (EV) test
bed, Mr Ng said he has to cover operating costs, including
maintaining a call centre and mobile payment systems.
HDT also needs
about 40 charging stations, each costing up to $20,000. It has 26
so far, he said.
As it is a
trial, HDT's fleet size will be capped at 100, and its licence to
operate taxis at eight years.
Despite the
competition faced by the taxi industry from private-hire car
services like Uber and Grab, Mr Ng is confident he can attract taxi
drivers. He has hired 10 so far.
"I don't think
it's a downside but an opportunity to attract taxi drivers by
offering them a fixed salary and good training," he added. The
basic salary is $1,600 a month but they can earn up to $3,200, if
they hit a monthly revenue target. If they exceed this, they will
co-share the revenue with HDT.
Some commuters
said they may forgo the electric taxis as the 25-cent rate could
add up. A 22km ride from Simei to Raffles Place, for example, would
cost about $1.80 more. Mr Arvin Kanagalingam, 34, a customer
service officer, said: "I would probably opt for cheaper taxis,
unless I am in a rush."
Others were
willing to give it a go. Mr Augustine Lim, 38, a communications
executive, said: "It's not a big deal. I'll enjoy a quieter ride
and be doing my part for the environment."
