Prague city councillors have approved a plan that would allow only electric or hydrogen-powered taxis to operate in the capital from 2030.

The proposal is part of a broader effort to cut air pollution and respond to the rapid growth of the taxi sector, which city officials say is putting increasing pressure on the environment.

Transport is now the largest source of air pollution in Prague. Although the city meets current legal limits, pollution levels in many districts remain above recommendations set by the World Health Organization.

From 2030, new European rules will also tighten emission limits, cutting the allowed levels of harmful substances by half.

City officials argue that taxis play a growing role in this problem. Data from the municipality shows that the number of registered taxis has risen sharply since 2021, driven mainly by ride-hailing platforms such as Uber and Bolt.

The figures show how dramatic the shift has been. In 2010, Prague had fewer than 2,000 taxis. By 2024, the number had climbed to almost 16,000, including cars operating for app-based services. At the same time, the renewal of the fleet has slowed. The average taxi in Prague is now around ten years old, meaning many vehicles on the road fail to meet modern environmental standards.

To support the planned transition, the city intends to expand charging infrastructure. Through its municipal companies, Prague will install 1,500 new AC charging points on public streets in the coming years. At the end of last year, there were 791 charging stations in the capital, offering 1,352 charging points in total, according to the Transport Research Centre of the Ministry of Transport.

The proposal, however, has already sparked political debate. Ondřej Prokop, head of the Prague branch of the ANO party and an opposition councillor, criticised the move as excessive regulation.

He said that while stricter emission standards such as Euro 6d make sense, forcing all taxi drivers to switch to electric cars by 2030 goes too far. Prokop also argued that the city will not have enough charging infrastructure even within the next four years and suggested that the plan could benefit large ride-hailing companies that have been lobbying for tougher rules.

Alongside the new taxi policy, councillors also approved changes to parking rules for electric vehicles. From now on, owners of electric cars can purchase a citywide permit for paid parking zones for 24,000 crowns per year.

Residents using electric cars will pay 600 crowns annually for a residential parking card. Until this year, electric vehicles were allowed to park in these zones for free, but that exemption ended in January.

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