Prague officials are pushing for a full transition to electric and hydrogen-powered taxis—but drivers warn of rising costs and job losses.

A new plan introduced by Prague’s deputy mayor for transport, Zdeněk Hřib (Pirates), could drastically change how taxis operate in the Czech capital. If passed, it would ban all petrol and diesel-powered taxis from Prague’s streets within five years, forcing a switch to electric or hydrogen vehicles.

The move is part of a broader push to reduce vehicle emissions in the city. “We need to send a clear signal,” said Hřib. “Cars that operate daily in the city—especially for commercial transport—must be as environmentally friendly as possible.”

But the proposal has sparked immediate resistance from taxi drivers and ride-hailing operators. They argue the plan is economically unsustainable and will leave many drivers unable to afford the transition.

Prague currently has around 16,000 active taxi vehicles, most of them operating through ride-hailing apps like Bolt and Uber. That number has been rising by nearly 20% every year, according to city estimates.

The city is now considering an intermediate step: banning vehicles older than six years within two years. Eventually, all fossil-fuel taxis would be barred from operating.

Taxi drivers say the proposal amounts to a forced shutdown of their livelihoods.

“The price of an electric vehicle is around 1.2 million CZK, and it loses value quickly with every kilometer,” said Arnošt Drozd, vice-chairman of the Czech Taxi Drivers Association. “This is unaffordable for most drivers. The customer will end up paying the price.”

According to Drozd, switching the entire fleet to electric vehicles would cause fares to increase 2.5 times, pricing many passengers out of using taxi services.

Global Cities Already Moving in This Direction

Prague’s plan is part of a growing international trend. Oslo banned combustion engine taxis in late 2023. Similar mandates are being implemented in Florence and will come into effect in Singapore by 2030.

City officials argue that Prague must follow suit. “This is the future,” Hřib said. “Delaying the transition will only deepen the environmental damage and increase the eventual cost.”

Would you like us to write about your business? Find out more