Hamburg speeds up the shift toward zero-emission taxi services

Hamburg Embraces Electric Taxis: A Green Mobility Transition

Hamburg, Germany, is leading the charge in the transition to electric taxis, with a focus on reducing emissions and promoting sustainable mobility. The city's commitment to this cause began in earnest in 2021, and since then, significant strides have been made.

The Climate Protection Strengthening Act, passed in December 2023, aims to further increase the number of electric taxis in Hamburg. This act comes as part of a broader effort to combat climate change and reduce air pollution in the city.

As of January 2025, no new taxis or rental cars with internal combustion engines can be registered in Hamburg. Instead, only locally emission-free taxis and rental cars will be allowed to be newly registered. This requirement applies to large taxis (with more than eight seats) and specially equipped vehicles, such as those for wheelchair transport, from January 2027.

In support of this transition, taxi companies can submit grant applications for the ongoing third phase of funding and the Hamburg Environmental Bonus. Subsidies for electric taxis can amount to up to 5,000 euros per vehicle. Site owners and charging infrastructure providers can also receive up to 10,000 euros in funding per charger.

Hamburg's investment in electric taxi infrastructure is already bearing fruit. Currently, there are six exclusive fast-charging stations with a total of 12 charging points at taxi stands in the city area. The city plans to grow the number of these stations to up to 40 in the near future.

Moia and taxi providers are cooperating to develop e-charging infrastructure, ensuring that the city's taxi fleet remains powered and ready for service. This collaboration is part of a larger project, the Zukunftstaxi Project, which has launched a new funding round.

The efforts to promote electric taxis are paying off. As of now, almost 700 fully electric taxis are operating in Hamburg. Since the project started in 2021, these electric taxis have saved over 11,000 tons of CO2.

The city's commitment to a greener future is evident in its ongoing projects, such as Homeport, a test field for future technologies in the maritime environment. Hamburg's mobility transition is progressing, with a focus on electric taxis, and the city shows no signs of slowing down.

However, specific information about which companies in Hamburg have successfully applied for city funding for ecological-electric taxis until January 2025 remains unavailable. Nonetheless, the city's dedication to a sustainable future is clear, and the future of electric taxis in Hamburg looks bright.