Every day, thousands of people use maxi taxis to get where they need to go in TT. Among the 5,000 maxi taxis that provide the service, a small yet growing number use CNG, whether through a bi-fuel engine, or dual fuel diesel engine.

These maxis have proven to be efficient, affordable and durable according to the Association of Maxi Taxi Drivers of TT (AMTTT).

For the past six years, the association, with the assistance of the National Gas Company (NGC), has been a key contributor in the drive to make the maxi taxi service part of the green economy through Routes Auto Ltd, a company which specialises in the import, sale and maintenance of OEM (original equipment manufacturer) CNG-powered maxi taxis.

Like other companies, Routes Auto endured difficulties in the face of the covid19 pandemic, but the leadership says they continue to serve the maxi taxi industry as a company built by "maxi men and for maxi men."

A public private partnership

In August 2015, AMTTT formed Routes Auto Ltd after years of consultation and collaboration with NGC CNG. Its executive made visits to Jiangsu, China, sourcing their flagship vehicle the Joylong A6 18-seater bi-fuel (petrol/CNG) maxi taxi, provided by Joylong Automobile Co.

The company assists maxi operators in either trading in their maxis for new ones or helping them source a new one.

The maxis are made to order and licensed as transport vehicles to serve the public in a cleaner, more efficient and cheaper manner.

The process – including building the vehicle, transporting it to TT, licensing, painting, and handing it over the driver – takes about six months. Within that time maxi operators would continue using their vehicles.

Several operators also took advantage of incentives from NGC CNG, which gave drivers a minimum of $45,000 to switch from diesel-burning vehicles to CNG.

[caption id="attachment_913430" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Routes Auto is located at a refurbished NP station in Tunapuna. - PHOTO BY ROGER JACOB[/caption]

Up until 2019, the company operated out of the Route One Maxi Taxi Association’s offices in Port of Spain. The company then converted an old NP gas station in Tunapuna into its headquarters.

“When we got this place we could see through the roof,” said chairman of Routes Auto and AMTTT president Eon Hewitt. “We rebuilt it from the ground up.”

The company’s technicians and directors were all members of the association. Their lead technician, a driver and mechanic, went to Jiangsu, China, to train in repairing and maintaining the vehicles. They also sourced the tools and equipment needed to maintain the vehicles. The company now has two technicians specialised in the maintenance and repair of CNG-powered vehicles.

The board and association leaders said Routes Auto’s journey was made possible in no small part with the assistance of NGC CNG. The board said their trips to China, training of staff, and sourcing of equipment was all done with the assistance of NGC.

“This is a great example of a public private partnership where th