The Brussels Parliament has agreed to delay the mandatory electrification of all new taxis by two years.
Mandatory electrification was supposed to take effect from January 2025, according to a government decree from October 2022. Given that vehicles used as taxis must be replaced every seven years, the regulation would affect 700 out of 3,250 taxis in the Brussels-Capital Region.
In September, the 'Electric Charging Stations Taskforce' submitted a study to the Taxi Sector Advisory Council. It indicated that electric taxis do not cost any more than traditional ones and that current charging infrastructure meets the needs of the taxi sector.
Despite this opinion, the Council argued the opposite and was supported by Socialist Party (PS) and liberal Mouvement Réformateur (MR) ministers.
Jamal Ikazban (PS), who initiated the proposal, noted that the sector's profitability had declined, partly due to increased restrictions on the number of taxis. The cost evaluation model for electric vehicles is based on manufacturers' stated ranges, and the initial investment is prohibitive without subsidies.
Aline Godfrin and Amin El Boujdaini (MR) also pointed out that the taskforce's report was delayed and that Brussels lacks fast-charging stations. Moreover, there are no hydrogen refuelling stations.
Centrists Les Engagés – the potential third partner in the future Francophone majority – voted against the proposal, along with green parties Ecolo and Groen. Sofia Bennani argued that the taskforce should be heard first at the very least.
