Overview
Taxis are an interesting, but also challenging field of application for electromobility: Due to the high mileage in the taxi business, the relatively high acquisition costs of electric vehicles can be quickly amortised through operational cost savings. However, taxi transport also places particularly high demands on vehicle quality, reliability, range and safety. Taking these prerequisites into consideration, the GuEST project will explore what a viable business model for e-taxis might look like. The operation of a test fleet will enable the study of commercial, technical and sociological aspects in real-world conditions and provide practical experience of electromobility in everyday life.
Within the framework of the fleet tests, five identical electric vehicles will be deployed in taxi operations. Specific measurement technology will collect, among other things, energy flow and consumption, as well as typical route profiles. As an example, studies will be made on how challenging routes with high elevation profiles affect the range and therefore the operational capabilities of electric vehicles in taxi operations. In addition, requirements for charging infrastructure, organisational integration and safety aspects, as well as commercial factors in taxi operations will be examined. For instance, the vehicles will be regularly inspected for specific wear and tear or other abnormalities. A sociological analysis is intended to provide information about the acceptance of the vehicles from the viewpoint of both taxi drivers and passengers and to reveal areas for optimisation.