The city’s electric taxi drivers have been praised for being Dundee’s environmentally friendly transport ambassadors.
The Princess Street charging hub is used by almost 100 vehicles-a-day, described by some in the taxi industry as being the best in Scotland.
On Wednesday, a world-famous London Black Cab of the electric motor variety visited Dundee as part of a UK-wide tour showcasing the benefits of e-vehicles.
And local taxi firm owner, Peter Fraser, said attitudes in the industry were coming round to the idea of using electric vehicles.
His sentiments were echoed by city development committee convener Councillor Lynne Short, who said multi-modal transport options would be at the forefront of commuter planning in the future.
She said: “The London Electric Vehicle Company came to show how even the most iconic cars can be adapted to be fitted with an electronic motor.
“When companies like the London Electric Vehicle Company use facilities like ours, it shows there is a very real market for electric and hybrid vehicles.
“Dundee is leading the way with electric vehicles. In the city there are more than 100 electric taxis in our fleets compared to other places like Aberdeen or Edinburgh.
“We won’t be putting all of our eggs in one basket and the multi modal model will be how we promote transport for the future.
“This includes encouraging commuters to use the new, environmentally friendly busses to get to work, cycling, walking or car sharing.
“Also, as part of the Tay Cities Deal, there is a proposal to build a park and ride on the Fife side of the road bridge, which would help drastically cut pollution. It’s better to have 40 people commuting in one vehicle than 40 people travelling in individual cars.
“There is around £80 million worth of funding available for companies from the Scottish government to embrace multi modal transport, it is our job to make sure Dundee is able to get as much of it as possible.”
Peter Fraser, who was one of the inaugural members of the council’s ECO star programme, said: “When we put our first Nissan Leaf electric vehicle (EV) on in 2013 we were laughed at.
“Now some of the very same people who laughed at us are EV drivers.
“Hopefully when Dundee City Council open up their third charge hub in Broughty Ferry, more members of the taxi and private hire trade will take the bold step and change to an EV.
“There are many climate change deniers in our trade who will never change but hopefully as technology & battery life improve this may change.”
