Brussels PS party proposes two-year delay for taxi electrification

The Socialist Party (PS) is proposing a two-year delay to the mandatory electrification deadline for the taxi fleet in Brussels. Currently, electric vehicles account for approximately 10 percent of the city's 3,250 taxis. Projections from Brussels Mobility suggest that between 300 and 350 internal combustion engine vehicles will need replacement by 2027, a transition that could double the number of electric taxis on the road.

Supporters of the delay, including the spokesperson for State Secretary for the Taxi Sector Karine Lalieux, argue that the current pace is too rapid. The PS suggests that a delay would align Brussels more closely with Flanders, where all new taxis must be zero-emission by 2030. A primary concern cited by the party is the sufficiency of fast-charging infrastructure to support taxis that operate continuously across multiple shifts.

While a task force including Brussels Mobility and Sibelga previously concluded that the existing network is adequate, the PS maintains that more fast-chargers are needed. Recent data from EV Belgium indicates the number of fast-charging points has risen to 316. The issue is expected to be a point of contention in the Brussels government as the new political session begins, specifically between State Secretary Lalieux and Mobility Minister Elke Van den Brandt.