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A revolutionary taxi group founded by four pioneering women based in Cape Town is proving to be ‘streets ahead’.

Offering secure transport options while heading up eco-friendly initiatives, The Green Cab is striking a balance between sustainability and safety.

Founded in 2010 with a mission to combat violence against women, co-founder Amiene van der Merwe emphasised to News24 the importance of empowering women financially to reduce their vulnerability to gender-based violence.

Driven by her personal experience surviving sexual abuse, Amiene is determined to address the alarming rates of violence against women in South Africa through The Green Cab. The company aims to create a more gender-equitable urban transport future by offering safe transportation options and increasing female representation in the e-hailing sector, per Cape Town ETC.

The Green Cab plans to introduce options for passengers to request female drivers through partnerships with e-hailing apps like ChaufHER, allowing women to feel safer while commuting.

Image: The Green Cab

Now the company is transitioning to a fully electric fleet, adding a commitment to sustainability beyond safety concerns.

The company is embracing an eco-friendly shift even though the era of EVs hasn’t fully taken off here yet, with plans to roll out 230 electric vehicles over the next five years. The company is exploring partnerships with manufacturers like Volvo to make the transition smoother.

The Green Cap LinkedIn mentions how “Pioneering the use of EVs in the Cab sector in South Africa will yield valuable research incites into how it can improve air quality.”

“To this end it is working wiht the United National Environment Programme. GreenCab will also calculate its emission-savings in order to offer corporate South Africa to lower their Carbon Tax obligations.”

With 60 vehicles owned and operated by The Green Cab and an additional 170 to be owned by women franchisees, the initiative holds promise for job creation and economic empowerment. Training programmes are already in action, equipping female drivers with the skills needed to operate the new electric fleet.

“Building a pipeline of suitably-trained, tech-savvy women “jockeys” is key to transformation to get Womenin the Driving Seat of their own futures.”

Upon completion, drivers will have the opportunity to start their own franchise businesses, further promoting female entrepreneurship in the transportation sector.

“No more guilt trips” The Green Cab slogan quips, “Join the Green Drive!”

Find out more over here.

[source:capetownetc]