BEAT is starting to prioritise through its app zero-emission vehicles as a key incentive for its partner drivers to replace their thermal vehicles with electric ones. At the same time, from 2025 onwards, and if the legislative framework allows, BEAT aims to register only zero-emission vehicles on its platform. Zero emission vehicles will be given priority routes over thermal vehicles through a new, innovative Smart Route Assignment system, which has been developed in Greece and will be tested by the FREE NOW group, of which BEAT is a member, for the first time in the Greek market.
It is a priority system, with multiple objectives:
- A better travel experience for the passenger
- Reward, with more revenue for the professional taxi driver
- Sustainability
This system, through its algorithm, will select the vehicle to be sent on each route by calculating parameters such as the age and pollution of the vehicle, the waiting time of the passenger, and the score that drivers have collected from BEAT passengers. Thus, among the vehicles nearest to the passenger, the one with zero or the least possible pollutants will be selected by the application. Thus, BEAT is developing this route assignment technology by thinking about the passenger, the driver and the environment. It is worth noting the following: Today, in order to compensate for the air pollution caused by the 13,500 taxis in Attica every year, it is necessary to plant an area of forest equal to 1.5 times the size of the Parnitha National Park.
BEAT has the largest cooperating taxi fleet in Greece, with over 8,000 drivers. This new technology can maximize the utilization (optimal economic performance & occupancy) of the vehicles, which is key to sustainability. This strategy as a whole, apart from the environmental benefits and the ever increasing improvement of the quality of the routes, will also lead to a benefit for the partner drivers, by increasing their revenues. It is estimated that an electric vehicle driver, working with BEAT and having the possibility to charge at home, would earn €2,000-6,000 more per year than the average taxi, while at the same time ceasing to pollute the environment with 13 tonnes of CO2 per year. The FREE NOW Group looks forward to offsetting current emissions by gradually reducing them until the zero emissions target is reached. It is noted that, in total, FREE NOW will make investments of €100 million in Europe in the form of incentives for drivers to make the switch to electrification.
"We congratulate BEAT for its initiative. The future of urban mobility is characterised by a universal demand and an urgent need: the reduction of pollutants that harm the environment and public health, degrading the quality of life. This need has been expressed by the European Union through the European Union's European Green Deal, which the Greek Government has embraced and is implementing with steady steps and policies. As the Ministry of Environment and Energy we have set our targets through the National Energy and Climate Plan and we are committed to our strong support for initiatives that encourage the transition to zero-emission mobility."
-Alexandra Sdoukou, Secretary General of Energy and Natural Resources
"With the belief that the worst of the pandemic is behind us, we are today ushering in a new era of green transport and more sustainable cities. At the same time, we are focused on improving the passenger experience and increasing the income of the drivers who work with us. The new route assignment system of BEAT is at the heart of this strategy and I am very proud that this technology is being developed by our Greek team.".
-Vassilis Danias, General Manager of BEAT in Greece
