Deputy mayor Zdeněk Hřib's ambitious proposal aims to ban fossil-fuel taxis within five years to reduce emissions and improve air quality, but taxi drivers warn of steep costs and fare increases.
Prague is gearing up to join an increasing list of European cities pushing for tighter rules around urban transport, with a fresh proposal targeting the phase-out of all petrol and diesel taxis within the next five years—pretty ambitious, huh? The move is spearheaded by deputy mayor Zdeněk Hřib, from the Pirate Party, who wants to see all taxis in the Czech capital switch over to electric or hydrogen power by 2029. This plan would roll out in stages, starting with banning vehicles over six years old within two years, and then moving on to a complete ban on fossil-fuel taxis eventually.
This idea lines up pretty well with Prague’s broader push toward sustainable urban mobility. You know, stuff like integrating automated metro systems and rolling out multimodal mobile apps to make public transit more convenient, all aimed at reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and cutting down emissions. Hřib has been pretty vocal about the urgency here—pointing out that taxis, especially those operating daily in the city center, need to be environmentally friendly to improve air quality and lower emissions.
What’s interesting is how this move puts Prague alongside other global cities like Oslo, Florence, and Singapore, all of which have either already introduced or are considering similar measures. Norway’s capital, Oslo, actually banned combustion engine taxis late last year, setting a kind of example. And now, Prague’s plan is part of this bigger European trend, trying to find that sweet spot between keeping things economically viable and meeting critical climate objectives.
That said, not everyone’s thrilled about it. Taxi drivers and their representatives are raising quite a fuss. For example, Arnošt Drozd from the Czech Taxi Drivers Association points out that the cost of upgrading is hefty—electric taxis cost upwards of 1.2 million CZK and, as you might guess, they depreciate quickly. Many drivers are genuinely concerned that the switch just isn’t financially feasible. Drozd mentions that these added costs could make fares go up by about 2.5 times, which might scare off customers, not to mention make it tough for drivers to stay competitive and sustain their livelihoods.
This debate isn’t unique to Prague—across Europe, similar issues are cropping up. The International Road Transport Union (IRU) has been discussing challenges like vehicle availability, charging infrastructure reliability, and the hefty price tag of zero-emission taxis. It really highlights how important it is for governments to step in with incentives, develop better infrastructure, and involve stakeholders early so the whole transition isn’t just a rushed or unfair process.
On the infrastructure front, things are already moving. Prague’s local tech company is planning to set up over 1,000 new EV charging stations by 2026. That’s a significant step, and it makes sense—one of the big hurdles for adopting electric taxis is the dock and charge dilemma. Making sure drivers can find decent, reliable charging points easily is pretty crucial for making the switch attractive.
While the city’s transport committee is still hashing out the details of the final policy, the general direction is pretty clear. Prague wants to lead the way in Europe on sustainable urban mobility. But ultimately, a lot depends on balancing environmental goals with the economic realities taxi drivers face. It’s about making sure nobody gets left behind, and that public transport stays accessible and affordable.
Sources:
1. [1]
2. [2]
3. [3]
4. [4]
5. [5]
6. [6]
7. [7]
Source: Noah Wire Services
