Tesla Taxi Service In Plans

A new taxi service is seeking support from city council to open in Vernon.

Current Taxi would use Tesla electric cars to cut down on emissions.

General Manager Jerry Pokorny says the Vernon market is under-serviced.

“There is one taxi for around 1,276 residents. When we look at the Regional District of North Okanagan, that goes up by 112 percent, so there is one taxi for 2,700 people living in the area,” says Pokorny.

Pokorny says there are currently 30 taxis licensed in the regional district.

“We’ve had preliminary talks with local residents and businesses. There is general consensus there are longer wait times, consumer frustrations, and a potential for increased impaired driving, which is why we are here. We want to improve on all those areas.”

Owner Dale Conway says they will use luxury Tesla electric vehicles, meaning less pollution.

“Our plan is to put an application into the Transportation Board asking for four vehicles, initially putting two of those on the road and then measuring demand for the first six months to a year,” says Conway.

The company — which has had cars running in Kelowna since October — is seeking city support for its application to the Passenger Transportation Board.

Council will discuss the request at its next meeting, but Mayor Akbal Mund says he will support it.