Tesla Model 3 Recommended for Electric Taxi Subsidy Program in Hamburg, Germany

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The project to support and help fund electric taxis, “Zukunftstaxi,” will start April 1 in Hamburg, Germany. In addition to federal funding, green taxi owners can receive up to €20,000 in payments over two years. Tesla Model 3 is on the list of recommended EVs for use as such a taxi.

Project manager Dirk Ritter explained that this funding program was launched not to promote specific vehicles, but to support electric taxis in general. The funding is aimed at compensating for operational shortcomings such as longer charging times, longer distances to the charging station, and therefore higher labor costs compared to refueling vehicles with combustion engines.

The first stage of financing includes 130 electric taxis. They will receive a payment of €1,000 or €2,000 every three months of work until the corresponding maximum funding limit is reached. Anyone who, after one year of operation, can prove that they have covered at least 15,000 kilometers (9,320 miles) in a self-employed business and at least 20,000 kilometers (12,430 miles) in a multi-vehicle company using a taxi meter will receive an additional €1,000 or €2,000.

The second stage of financing includes 170 electric taxis that can be funded with the same model until June 30, 2022. However, for them, the maximum total amount of funding for a car is reduced to €5,000 or €10,000. The decision on the subsidy will be determined according to the motto "first come, first served."

“We see the taxi industry as part of the public transport services of tomorrow; taxis are an important component of the urban ecological network and should remain so in the future,” says Anjes Tjarks, Senator for Transport and Mobility.

The program considers several proposals from EV manufacturers. Tesla Model 3 is one such option. Tesla cars have become well-established as Taxis, as several taxi fleets around the world are already using them. Tesla cars are also widespread among private taxi drivers who work for themselves and do not belong to any company.

Besides Tesla Model 3, the program is open to Kia E-Niro, LEVC TX, Mercedes-Benz vehicles, Nissan Leaf and e-NV200 Evalia, Polestar 2, and Volkswagen ID.4. More electric models will be added, according to the project manager. The Hamburg Senator and his project partners hope to be able to become a source of similar ideas for other regions of Germany with their future taxis.

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