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23 January 2007
For immediate release

Radio Taxis Group Leads Sustainability Drive

• Advanced additives package delivers fuel economy and particulates reduction
• Radio Taxis Group enters third year of carbon offset programme
• Investment in new technology sees electric bus added to fleet

Radio Taxis Group Ltd, the UK’s leading ground transport services supplier, today (22 January 2007) announced the next phase of an extended environmental impact management programme, designed to deliver significant additional cuts in carbon dioxide and particulate emissions across its fleet, and cement its position as the UK sustainable transport champion.

CarbonNeutral® since 2005, the company’s latest announcement sees a significant extension of activity with a strong focus on source emission reductions in response to climate change concerns and on particulates in response to worries about local air quality. The programme will be backed by an extension of Radio Taxis Group’s CarbonNeutral® status to address those emissions that could not be cut at source.

The four strand programme sees: the launch of a new fuels additives package that improves fuel economy and reduces particulate emissions by up to 52 per cent; independent carbon auditing and offset of emissions for the company’s offices and 3,000 strong fleet; the replacement and upgrade of vehicles based on fuel economy and recyclability; and the trialling of next generation electric and hybrid vehicles.

As a result Radio Taxis Group anticipates delivering a 10 per cent reduction in year on year emissions of some 2400 tonnes, and the offset of the remaining CO2 to achieve CarbonNeutral® status.

Andrew Herbert, Managing Director of Radio Taxis Group commented:

"The time for businesses to take action on the climate is now. As a transport provider we recognise that we have a direct and significant impact on the local and global environment. For the last two years we have offset all of our unavoidable carbon emissions, whilst at the same time exploring how to integrate the goal of long-term sustainability into our business.

Today we are happy to unveil the next phase of our ongoing programme that puts this goal at the heart of our business. We are measuring our emissions, we are tackling them at source and offsetting what remains, and we are looking to a future where environmental best practice is inextricably linked to commercial profitability. This is good business for us and good for the planet, and I call on the rest of the industry to follow suit."

Radio Taxis Group also took the opportunity to confirm that they were in the final stages of testing on a biofuels package due to be rolled out in early 2007.

Radio Taxis Group’s programme includes:

• Additives: Working with UK based fuel experts Infinitum, Radio Taxis Group has conducted performance trials at Millbrook testing ground using a new fuel additives package. The results suggest a substantial reduction in particulates of up to 52 per cent and an 18.7 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency. The new additives package will be in use across the executive fleet from January 2007.
• Fleet purchasing: A responsible purchasing policy has seen the replacement of Radio Taxis Group executive limousines with new Audi A8s, a vehicle that not only delivers exceptional fuel performance in its class but is also up to 95% recyclable. Subsidised installation of catalytic converters and new exhaust systems has seen more than 25 per cent of the taxi fleet converted ahead of the 2008 deadline.
• Next generation vehicles: Radio Taxis Group is entering trials with Modec to pioneer its electric bus. Modec vans make sound commercial as well as environmental sense. Intelligent design means inherently low maintenance costs from features such as ’bounce-back’ lower body panels that can absorb minor impacts and a motor that has just 3 moving parts (compared to over 300 in a typical diesel engine). Features like these translate directly into benefits such as long 20,000 mile service intervals and low insurance rates. In addition, operating advantages include: zero road tax, zero congestion charge and not least, zero emissions.
• Carbon offset: Now entering its third year as a CarbonNeutral® business, Radio Taxis Group will continue to carry out a comprehensive audit of its entire business, reducing all unnecessary emissions and only offsetting unavoidable ones. In 2007 the company expects to offset somewhere in the region of 24,000 tonnes of outstanding CO2 emissions through investment in a variety of projects ranging from wind power generation in India and New Zealand, to energy efficient lighting in Jamaica, to methane capture in Pennsylvanian coal mines.

Jonathan Shopley, chief executive of The CarbonNeutral Company said,

"Radio Taxis Group has shown itself to be leading the way in providing environmentally friendly transport in the UK. The success that they have enjoyed since becoming CarbonNeutral® demonstrates that businesses and individuals alike can benefit by taking action to mitigate their impact on the environment."

Ends

Notes to Editors

• Formed in 1953, Radio Taxis Group provides a single point solution for all business and private ground transport needs. It was de-mutualised in June 2004.
• Based in North London, Radio Taxis Group’s fleet of over 3000 vehicles includes chauffeur driven executive cars, black taxis, private hire vehicles (including an in-house driver training school) and a motorbike and van courier service.
• Radio Taxis Group is the first UK company to offer a fully integrated booking and review system, allowing customers to book online and then quickly and accurately track their usage afterwards.
• Radio Taxis Group has pioneered sustainable transport systems in the UK. It was the first CarbonNeutral® transport service provider, invests heavily in energy and emissions reductions programmes and has an in-house R&D facility dedicated to reviewing new technologies that target improving environmental performance
• With over 4,000 corporate clients ranging from leading city businesses to the creative industries and from public sector bodies to charities and football clubs, Radio Taxis Group is one of the UK’s largest ground transport service providers. Clients include EMI Music, Allen & Overy and the British Library.
• Radio Taxis Group has been recognised by a number of independent awards, including The Energy Savings Trust Best Practice Award, the Business in the Community Awards for Excellence, the Impact on Society Award and the CIMA Financial Management CSR Award.

For further information, informed comment, interview or images please contact, Paul Donlon / Oliver Williams (Four Communications Plc)
- E: rtg@fourcommunications.com
- T: + 44 (0) 870 420 3268