All the blogs and articles to do with electric vehicles and eCab’s project for the company to be 100% Green by 2025 will fall under this tag.

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400 evergreen shrubs

eCabs plants 400 evergreen shrubs along St Julian’s promenade

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eCabs has partnered up with the St Julian’s local council to beautify St Julian’s promenade with 400 evergreen shrubs.

More than 400 evergreen shrubs are being planted along the St Julian’s promenade, in a collaboration between eCabs and the town’s local council.

The plants, an evergreen coastal shrub of the myrtle family, will dot the promenade stretching from Spinola Bay to Balluta.

They are being planted and maintained by a landscaper engaged by the St Julian’s local council.

The council partnered with eCabs, which is headquartered in St Julian’s, to acquire the shrubs.

eCabs said it believes that embracing different modes of transport is part of the solution towards improving urban spaces. The company has previously pledged to switch its entire fleet to electric vehicles by 2025.

In the press:

The Times of Malta

How to travel sustainably and help save the planet

How to travel sustainably and help save the planet

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The worldwide travel sector accounts for about eight percent of global carbon emissions. There are ways to travel sustainably and help the environment, and we need to make a difference.

What is sustainable travel?

As awareness of climate change intensifies, people are becoming more informed and concerned about the negative impact of travel.

They are consequently more willing to make a change to their usual travel habits. And they tend to choose more eco-friendly options, in aid of more sustainable travel.

One approach which is gaining traction is the concept of ‘slow travel’. This means that travel should be based on a connection to the local culture, people, and food of the place you are visiting. It also advocates less frequent but longer trips.

Moreover, it also entails travelling by more sustainable means, such as trains instead of planes, for instance.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, people started looking at travel in a different way. Perhaps there is a way of travelling more responsibly in the future, while reducing our carbon footprint.

What is a carbon footprint?

A carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gasses that a company or individual emits. These emissions have a detrimental effect on the environment.

They make the temperature of the planet go up, which results in various effects. These include the rising of sea levels and ice caps melting, as well as the increase of natural disasters such as floods, extreme heat, and hurricanes.

Travel sustainably by making the right choices

There are various ways that you can reduce your carbon footprint by making smarter choices and travelling more sustainably. This can be done in a number of ways, such as using public transport or walking/cycling instead of driving.

  • When travelling short distances, try to avoid using air travel. Trains and ferries have a smaller carbon footprint than planes.
  • Walk when at all possible, especially short distances.
  • Use public transport if possible.
  • Try to use multimodality options such as bicycles, taxi services, electric scooters, e-bikes and even ferries.
  • When booking a ride-hailing or taxi service, choose the ‘green‘ or ‘Eco‘ option.

Reduce your carbon footprint when travelling by air

If you have no choice but to travel by air, it’s important to consider the environmental impact of your flights. One way to do this is to choose airlines that are committed to reducing their carbon emissions.

Many airlines now offer ‘carbon offset programmes’, where passengers can pay a fee to offset the emissions generated by their flight.

This money is then used to fund projects that help reduce carbon emissions, such as reforestation or renewable energy projects.

Apart from airlines, other companies offer carbon offset programmes, which help to fund projects that help reduce carbon emissions.

These projects can include reforestation or renewable energy projects, for instance. This is another relatively ‘easy’ way to help mitigate the environmental impact of your travel.

Choose sustainable accommodation

When choosing where to stay, try eco-friendly hotels or guesthouses. These kinds of establishments are designed to minimise their environmental impact, for example, by using renewable energy sources, reducing water usage, recycling and energy efficient lighting measures.

Choosing to stay in smaller, locally-owned accommodations can have a positive impact on the local economy.

Another way to be more eco-friendly is to limit the use of air conditioning in your accommodation, as well as to be mindful about the amount of water you use when abroad. It might be a small thing to you but the energy savings can be quite substantial.

Reduce waste when travelling

Reducing waste is an important part of sustainable travel. When travelling, try to avoid using single-use plastics and instead take a reusable water bottle, coffee cup, and shopping bag.

Additionally, try to choose products with minimal packaging and dispose of waste properly, using recycling facilities where possible.

Give your support to local communities and businesses

Supporting local businesses and communities can have a positive impact on the environment and the local economy. Try to eat at local restaurants that use local and seasonal produce, and buy souvenirs from local artisans.

Go for sustainable activities

When planning your travel, choose activities that have a minimal environmental impact, such as hiking and cycling.

These are great ways to enjoy the natural environment while lessening your impact on it. You could also choose to visit places such as national parks and protected areas.

These kinds of locations often have strong commitment to sustainable tourism.

By following these tips for travelling sustainably, you can help reduce your carbon footprint while still enjoying all that travel has to offer.

How to travel sustainably with us

Through its cutting-edge tech solutions, eCabs Technologies has given incentives to its drivers to opt for more environmentally-friendly vehicles by charging them a lower commission rate on the rides they perform, to encourage them to move to a more more eco-friendly solution.

To determine the commercial and operational feasibility of an all-electric fleet, it launched a pilot research project that involved testing various all-electric car brands in a 24/7 operational context.

The aim was to collect data that would shed light on the viability of using electric vehicles in such an environment.

When booking a taxi with eCabs, one can request the Eco category. This category is made up of 100 percent electric or hybrid vehicles, ensuring a ‘cleaner’ journey. Eco ride prices on the platform are at par with the lowest rides among all available options. 

eCabs’ own fleet is also leading the way into a more eco-friendly future by setting into motion an ambitious project for more sustainable travel which will see it run completely on green vehicles in the near future.

How are ride-hailing companies part of the solution?
eCabs Eco sustainable

Sustainable mobility: walking the talk

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eCabs Malta CEO Dr Andrew Bezzina says that eCabs has reprioritised its vision towards a long term sustainable and cleaner platform.

March 2020 changed the trajectory of many businesses the world over. However, an uncontrollable situation that gave us eerily quiet roads, also gave us cleaner oxygen and clearer air.

Nature was given the time and space needed to blossom with balances restored on land, air and sea. We learned to love what we miss so much in our country. The countryside walks with our families and the nature that we have come to take for granted over the years.

In many ways that situation contributed to the resetting of our thinking around the boardroom table. It saw us reprioritise, amongst many things, our vision towards a long term sustainable and cleaner platform. This is at the core of our Environmental, Social & Governance agenda.

Having a local operation that runs entirely on electric and hybrid vehicles by 2025 is no mean feat. It presents many challenges and relies on multiple stakeholder responsibilities.

Pilot project

Earlier this year we launched a pilot project. We invested in a multi-branded fleet of fully electric vehicles to test and to determine the operational and commercial suitability of EV’s in a 24/7 operational context on our challenging road network.

In eight months, we test covered 150,000kms, consuming 18,000KwH of electricity, translating to 0.12KwH per kilometre travelled. In the process, we saved 7.3 tonnes in CO2 emission versus an internal combustion engine (ICE). Additionally, we also benefited from economic savings of 65% of the fuel costs.

With a fully electric eCabs fleet, these CO2 savings would go up to over 650 tonnes p.a. More than quadruple that had we to manage to incentivise and convince all our partner drivers to follow suit. The process also saw us benefiting from 60% in cost savings for maintenance and servicing.

Incentives for all ECO rides

Having over 1,000 partner drivers on our platform in Malta, we launched a financial incentive for all with a reduced commission rate charged for all ECO rides. We thereby made a direct financial contribution towards the attainment of these goals. In doing this, we have added more incentives to the existing government grants for partner drivers to invest in cleaner vehicles.

As we work at gradually decommissioning ICE vehicles and replacing them with Electric Vehicles (EVs), we will continue to incentivise our partner drivers to do the same with their vehicles. Our goal is to complete the full transition by 2025.

Of course, no project of this sort comes without challenges. The largest challenge we collectively face as a nation revolves around the county’s charging infrastructure with vehicle range coming into play.

A long term sustainable solution

To give some important context, between the EV brands tested, we resulted with an average range of 290kms, running a half-day on a full charge. That is 55% less than a full tank of fuel in an ICE, and just about serves our range requirements today. By this summer we will need to close that 55% deficit.

On a positive note, we have commenced tests on a new set of EVs. These tests are estimated to solve this range issue . However, the long-term solution comes in the form of a mix of fast and normal charging cycles for a healthy battery lifetime – an important factor with manufacturers’ battery guarantees covering eight years or 160,000 kms, whichever comes first.

The country’s charging infrastructure would therefore be best planned for fast charging. This would leave the 8-10hr charging cycle at the base, or the home in the case of consumers.

It will however also come with its trade-offs. Existing parking spots would need to be given up for EV charging spaces. And we all know that parking is in short supply.

“We need to be more serious about this vision”

For larger fleet operators, there are also limitations on how many chargers can be installed on a standard 3-phase electricity meter. Fleet operators will inevitably have to invest in their own substations, with a hefty investment of around €150,000.

We are already drawing up outline plans for an electricity substation at our logistics centre. Additionally, we have held discussions with the government. They have confirmed plans for such substations to be partially funded via grants or tax credits.

As a country, we need to be more serious about this vision. With a growing population and with consumption on a constant long-term growth rate, we need to acknowledge that these important changes are an absolute must. This will require national commitment and the execution of a plan which doesn’t waver every year or two.

Greenwashing and skin-deep changes will not cut it. All stakeholder at multiple levels need to address a national transition to EVs.

Build and shaping tech for a sustainable future

As the main orchestra conductor, the Maltese Government does not have it easy. However important stakeholders also include consumers who ultimately affect demand, and by default shape supply. Fleet operators will need to be ready to invest in and anticipate the demand generated. In the meantime, we will continue to build and shape the technology that addresses our industry’s challenges, remaining committed to the investment needed in EVs and the infrastructure required to make it work.

Let us however make no mistake. Sustainable efforts by single companies will be futile unless all stakeholders complement them by a concerted effort and commitment. As we remain committed to the cause, we are also confident that all stakeholders can and will come together to effect change and walk the talk.

In the press:

The Times | Malta Business Weekly

The green way forward

The green way forward

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By Matthew Bezzina, CEO of eCabs

It had to take a deadly pandemic to finally get the world population out of its slumber and embrace the need to save our planet from irreparable damage. Green seems to be the most common buzzword to emerge out of the ongoing pandemic but, by all means, it is justified. Of course, this is not a sudden change but a result of a slow process which has now reached tipping point.

For a few months, last year, around March and April, we were able to witness what it meant to have very few cars on the road as economic activity slowed down. The air was clear; the country, although eerily deserted, more beautiful than it was for ages. Asthma sufferers breathed a sigh of relief.

That seems to contrast heavily with the stark warning coming out of an NSO publication earlier this year highlighting the fact that this country has reached a staggering 400,000 registered vehicles on our roads. That number, being close to Malta’s population, is a wake-up call to all of us that we must now take the decisive step to move towards a truly green economy.

European Green Deal

This pandemic has taught us an important lesson: when faced with severe and immediate health risks, people responded. Because we believed that the virus posed such a risk, we took action, collectively. Previously, while most of us are, to a certain extent, aware that the world faced a climate emergency, there was no feeling of immediate concern and action was slow. This has now changed.

Sustainability has been abused as a term for a couple of decades at least but it lies at the heart of the changes we will need to embark upon. Our future and that of our children will be significantly affected by the flights and trips we avoid, the quality of the household goods we choose to buy (or not to), the kind of electricity we use and how we dispose of our waste. Each to his or her own but that will drive real change on a large scale.

The good thing about all this is that, as a nation, we are not alone in this vision. Over the past months, the European Union has pushed forward an unprecedented Green Deal, which has tied considerable EU funding to the green transition. This will hopefully provide us, as a country, with the necessary boost, resource and financial-wise, to prop up the measures we take locally.

However, no government can bring this change alone and neither can a handful of private companies. This will require collective action. While, at eCabs, innovation and change are a raison d’etre of our own existence, we have witnessed the rapid transformation in people’s minds throughout the past months.

A ‘Cleaner eCabs Future’

The experience of people sharing stories of what should have been a normal thing to do – like walking through a popular promenade without soaking up exhaust fumes from the hundreds of vehicles slowly moving along the road’s traffic – inspired us to take our innovative efforts further.

The events of the past year strengthened our resolve to cement our vision for reducing our impact on the air quality in our country and spearhead a ‘Cleaner eCabs Future’ in everything that we will be doing going forward, including in the future development of our owned spaces.

We are kickstarting this off by committing to an ambitious goal of fully electrifying our fleet by 2025, an investment that will be a substantial one.

I believe this is the future that beckons. Covid-19 has made us all more conscious that green is the way forward. Every business will, ultimately, take this road. If it is not because of intrinsic belief, it will happen because our customers, advisers and banks will, at some point, question our sustainability. We are committed to take a leading role in this drive.

Our nation, our families, deserve this.

eCabs Green

eCabs to be 100% Green by 2025

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Mobility company eCabs is embarking on an ambitious project that will see it run entirely on green vehicles by 2025.

eCabs CEO Matthew Bezzina announced this initiative in the presence of Minister for Energy, Enterprise, and Sustainable Development Miriam Dalli.

Minister Dalli welcomed this investment as a strong signal by the private sector that wants to be part of the Government’s vision to decarbonise the economy by 2050.

“The private sector will find the Government on its side in its transition towards a more sustainable economy. My Ministry, together with other government entities, is working hard on a holistic strategy that will help encourage the take up of zero and low-emission vehicles,” Dr Dalli said.

She explained that a further take up by the private sector will help Malta reach its targets. “We can only reach our national targets if everyone is onboard. The Government is doing its part to encourage and facilitate the use of methods that are less harmful towards the environment, both financially and logistically,” the Minister said.

On his part, Mr Bezzina welcomed the commitment from Government adding: “The project to electrify our whole fleet and install all the required infrastructure will mean a significant investment by eCabs, which does require equal commitment from Government to ensure that the infrastructure to support electric mobility be implemented. This support given to this vision is welcome and encouraging”.

eCabs’ ongoing vision towards becoming more green

The electrification process has started with the launch of a number of fully electric vehicles including models from KIA, Hyundai and Citroen that join the existing hybrid vehicles in the eCabs fleet.

Mr Bezzina continued that positives could be taken from the sacrifices all had to endure in 2020, “The restrictions during last year’s lockdown sent our industry into a spiral, but on a more positive note less traffic meant reduced air pollution and cleaner air for everyone. The country although eerily deserted, was more liveable than it was for ages. This strengthened our resolve to cement our ongoing vision towards becoming even more sustainable and inspired our eCabs Greener Future initiative,” stated Matthew Bezzina.

“We are seeking more sustainable and cleaner operations in everything we are doing, including the future development of our owned spaces as well as a sustainable framework which includes incentivising and supporting our partner drivers to follow in these footsteps,” added Mr. Bezzina.

Concurrently and in support to this commitment, eCabs will also be launching a scheme to incentivise its partner drivers to invest in EVs or Hybrids including an improved financial model and other frameworks.

eCabs officially launched its Partner Drivers initiative late last year following the Public Service Garage reform concluded and launched by Government. The initiative offers self-employed drivers the opportunity to work for Malta’s leading home-grown mobility provider non-exclusively, essentially allowing drivers to increase their revenue stream possibilities, much needed in these troubling times.

In the press:

The Times of Malta | Who’s Who | Lovin Malta | Gozo News | Gadgets