A glimpse of the movement of tomorrow? – It is already tangible in Hamburg. The Free and Hanseatic City is systematically bringing electric mobility to the streets and is leading the way as a nationwide pioneer. With the “Future Taxi” project, an incentive scheme devised as part of Hamburg’s climate plan, taxi operators are given start-up support for making the switch to electric drive.
A city being electrified Hamburg pioneers and the ID.4 taxi

Clad in bright ivory, they zoom through Hamburg, almost silent as they go about their business. They attract attention in the urban landscape and their numbers are increasing: the new electric taxis. The majority have the ID.4 nameplate at the rear.
“In Hamburg, taxis are included as part of the public transport system and are evaluated as such in politics and administration, as well as in the public eye,” explained the man behind the Future Taxi project, Dirk Ritter, from the ministry for transport and mobility revolution (BVM), office of administration and law, transport industry. “Over the years we have developed visions of the future together. And an important point was understanding taxis as a fundamental part of the mobility revolution, with which electrification and local zero emissions of powertrains are inextricably linked.”
The programme helps Hamburg taxi operators to license an electric car: with up to 10,000 euros each over two years, or 20,000 euros for a wheelchair-accessible inclusive taxi. Available for 130 and 20 cars respectively in April 2021, the grant applications were all awarded within a matter of days. In the second stage, a further 170 taxis and 30 inclusive taxis will each be funded with 5,000 euros and 10,000 euros respectively as of October 2021.
“The phones were constantly off the hook”


Electrifying pioneering work


Felix Brandt used the coronavirus period to investigate new areas. “I focussed more intensely on electric mobility and looked at how well prepared the electric scene is for taxis. There wasn’t much on the market.“
"So I came up with the idea of setting up the Volkswagen ID.3 as a taxi,” said Felix Brandt.

“So, we sat down with Martin Voß and kicked off a joint project.”

An SUV with the right shape, easy access and a lot of space – when the ID.4 was launched, we knew it was our perfect taxi!


Reuss developed an electric taxi prototype, modifying it continuously – Brandt and his colleagues were now working intensively with the ID.4.
In pole position with the ID.4
When the lights finally went green for the Future Taxi project on 1 April, Volkswagen Automobile Hamburg and Reuss Funkservice were in pole position – and were the only ones able to offer a Volkswagen as an electric taxi in Germany.
Then things really got going: thanks to “Future Taxi”, Martin Voß and his two sales assistants had their hands full in the ensuing weeks. And it was the same at Reuss Funkservice. Converting more than 80 Volkswagens to electric taxis in five months was more than Brandt and his colleagues had bargained for. The demand and positive feedback from taxi operators confirms that their idea was spot on.



On the right track

The feedback from taxi operators has been overwhelmingly positive, but some sections of the taxi industry still need a little convincing. “But in my opinion, there is no alternative, because awareness is increasing among passengers and they will make a choice,” said Dirk Ritter from the ministry for transport and mobility revolution. The electric taxis can already be booked specifically using many platforms. Ritter, the initiator:
The Future Taxi project is about safeguarding the sustainability of the taxi industry. Taxis are part of the mobility revolution and are assuming responsibility for social climate targets.

For more information and press materials, see here the media portal Volkswagen Newsroom.