What if I wanted to make a Tesla Taxi?

I was thinking, what if I wanted to buy a Tesla or 2, a more stripped down bare bones one, and then get a Taxi License?

Wouldn't it be cool to get a ride in a Tesla Taxi?

I'm sure if you could get a Tesla setup as a taxi, just by word of mouth and some publicity that Taxi would be booked all day everyday!!! And you wouldn't feel guilty if it's running 7 days a week 12-16 hours a day, as there are no emissions!!

I personally wouldn't be the taxi driver, but I would consider buying a tesla and marrying it with a guy with a taxi license. Heck if it took off as a business I would get another and another, But even if not, I think it would be a cool novelty.



But I did a little tiny research and saw getting a taxi license seems pretty tough. And this article talks about it as you buy the car and the license together....

Investors Turn Hong Kong’s Red Taxis Into New Bubble Market - Bloomberg


Does anyone know if you could buy a tesla and buy a license (that's separate from the Red Toyota taxis?)

Sorry if this topic has been discussed before, I didn't see it.

Excellent information.

I was told a normal red taxi Toyota is about 300k. The tesla is 500k at basic?

so that 200k difference how much extra is the toyota costing to run monthly? 10k? I dont know. But that would take 2 years then to even out with the ice toyota.

I think the license is tough 6 or 7 million? To get one on the market?

CCT said:

There are several approved models on the road today that have been approved by the Government. Before you start your Tesla taxi joint, you first need to get the Tesla Model S approved by TD. If you succeed, you can then proceed to obtain taxi licenses for your fleet i.e. buy on the Taxi Exchange or privately from the 18,138 available.

However, even with a Tesla, you still charge customers the same fares as with a Crown Comfort. But the price difference between the two vehicles may be rather huge, which may mean a longer payback period even with less fuel and maintenance costs.

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My cousin in Singapore loves this app. He uses it a lot.

shelbri said:

Become an Uberterian.

Life as an Uber Driver: It's Just Not <em>Fare</em>David Fagin

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DITB said:

I don't think Uber is allowed in Hong Kong. It probably cannot be classed as "limo service" but rather as a genuine taxi, and as such they cannot bypass having a taxi license.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/...-to-snarl-traffic/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

It's a hot subject in Europe at the moment. I do believe it is downright illegal in some countries, where taxi services are highly regulated - and I think Hong Kong is one of them. In other countries, it meets various levels of resistance. One one hand, I do appreciate the competition, on the other hand, a minimum service level and certification is desired. Having said that, I have tried taxis on countless occasions where you must believe that "certification" and whatever course and tests it might require is in vain. Hong Kong included, my god there are some lousy drivers out there. Sure we all have to be new some time at something, but "comfort" it seems, is not part of the syllabus for whatever training and testing those drivers get (!!!)

Whenever I can, I call a BYD electric taxi - when I need one - to maximise their business opportunities. Although far from Tesla standard, it's still a pure EV and I want them to have all the credit they deserve. Call Albert on 6627 5744, he speaks both English and Cantonese, and has contact to a network of some of those BYD taxis. You can negotiate 5-10% discount, depending on the distance, but he won't do shorter trips unless he happens to be very close to you.

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This is another reason I think a Tesla COULD be a cool taxi. If it can get 500km in one charge that takes care of the complaint about some taxi EV drivers that complain they have too much downtime recharging. Also, giving the customer an option!

If you could chose between a loud gas emitting taxi, and a smooth quiet, no emissions taxi, I'm sure there's a niche that would go for the Tesla. And people like DITB go the extra mile to find an EV taxi!

Also, I'm not sure how this works, but I always thought of it just as a "tip". Have you ever been stuck in the rain with no taxi in sight and called up a taxi and told them you'd pay an extra $40hkd if they could just come and pick you up?

I also once LANDED right before the Typhoon 8 Signal went up, and by the time I walked out of the airport express the Typhoon 8 was raised. I literally had no way to get home at 12AM but had my secretary call up a taxi service and told them I'd pay them $100HKD extra to show up at the MTR exit and take me home. Without that I'm not sure how I would have gotten home that evening. It wasn't feasible to walk up a mountain dragging a couple of suitcases behind me for 2 hours during a Typhoon.

I have a friend in Sai Kung that uses the same taxi to the airport always. He has a set fee, and he loves it. He says there's no loud intercom static, no loud talk radio, no loud mobile phone conversations, and the car has curtains and it's a quiet peaceful journey. So there are a few drivers out there that understand customer service and how to make a niche for themselves.

I'm not saying I would expect consistent extra $$$ in tips for an EV Tesla car, but I could see it developing a strong customer base and without needing to stop every few hours for recharging may result in better ROI than the BYD taxi.

I guess it's a dream unless one can get a Tesla APPROVED by the govt and has $6 or $7 million to spare to get a license.

ck1116 said:

I really hope Tesla won't be used as Taxi, because I don't want to feel like I am a Taxi driver when driving my Model S or X.

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I don't think the Model X would ever be viable. I think Model S is a stretch, more me dreaming, but possible the "E" or whatever it's called, the so called, affordable low-cost version, many years from now could be possible.

bonaire said:

It is ironic for that because when I first looked at Uber's web site, they based background pictures on down town Hong Kong. Great city shots, mainly in black and white. Now, they have changed it.

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I saw an ad today that UBER is released in Hong Kong.

Supposedly they did a soft launch during rugby sevens, and now are launching into HK.

I think Uber would have mild success in HK, but I don't think it would take over and cause Taxis in HK to go out of business.

From what the people that tell me that use UBER is for:

#1) Convenience
#2) Inexpensive
#3) Great customer service.


And the thing is, HK taxis for the most part are fairly convenient to find, relatively inexpensive (especially compared to some other cities), and....well 2 out of 3 aint bad...Customer service is definitely a mixed bag.


But for reason #1 and #2, I don't think UBER would damage the life of a Taxi driver.


The only time I think people have a hard time finding a taxi are
#1) BAD WEATHER
#2) During/after an event. Yes during the rugby 7's finding a taxi can be difficult. Or walking out of an expo/show/concert with several thousand people...Ya a Taxi could be tough that moment..But usually I arrange transportation during those times, or I sometimes suggest we walk to a place for dinner/drinks and grab a taxi after the rush.

So I could see those 2 times UBER being useful and and maybe in remote areas and other situations. But I don't think Uber would just take over and make taxi's irrelevant.

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GSP said:

Thread with info on Model S taxi-limo service in the US:

Limo - Taxi Services using Teslas

GSP

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That's very cool!!

lx3h said:

Sweden has its first Tesla taxi

View attachment 52094

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...4962801.1073741827.18790602800&type=1&theater

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That is excellent!


I was thinking....If You have a Tesla HK taxi, and the taxi gets 30 passengers per day. In a week that's 210 people who MAY NEVER have heard or seen an Electric car in Hong kong. You could potentially be exposing people to something they never realize existed. And maybe 10% of those passengers are car buyers who are seeing what a futuristic 21st century car looks like. And of those 21, maybe 4-5 realize they'd rather be driving a cool EV car then the old ICE dinosaur they have and go for a test drive. And maybe 1 of those decides to buy a Tesla from that experience. (that's 50+ new Teslas in a year!)

You could potentially be adding future Tesla car owners just from the exposure of the experience. And it's all with ZERO advertising, ZERO marketing, just driving around and giving people a completely new experience. I'm sure when a customer sits in the car for the first time, they'd be shocked when they see the giant tablet, the quiet, or when the driver pops open the frunk to put in their luggage and they see the engine is missing!!