A study on the activation plan of electric taxi in Seoul

Due to global warming, the reducing air pollution is an important policy issue in the metropolitan area. Since the road mobile pollutant is the probable reason for the air quality pollution, the electric vehicle expansion is one of the main strategies for sustainable transportation systems. The expanded distribution of electric taxis depends on the important task of securing the investment feasibility compared to the currently operating liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) taxis. One thing to note is that a validity analysis is required to secure the sustainability of the switch from LPG to electric taxis and for the effective distribution of investment resources. This study has diagnosed the implementation potential of electric taxis by analyzing the operating and charging behaviors of electric taxis from actual digital tachometer data which is consist of speed, driving distance, power usages of power train and by carrying out the feasibility study and environmental analysis for implementing electric taxis. It was found that the financial feasibility exists in converting private taxis to electric taxis, and the implementation potential is high. Moreover, the environmental analysis showed that socioeconomic benefits would be created with reduced air pollutants and CO₂ from electric taxi operations. As a result of feasibility study, the implementation of electric taxis is feasible from both financial and environmental perspectives under the current subsidy situations. Thus, attempts for sustainable urban transportation structure should be supported by operating behaviors, charging infrastructure, regulations, policies, and battery technology for the promotion of electric taxis.