Taxi Driver Online

Think this is what cynics call a puff-piece

Electric taxi maker targeting Birmingham drivers ahead of pollution crack down

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/m ... m-14791493

Polluting cabs set to be refused Birmingham licenses from 2020



The first pollution busting electric taxi has been licensed to operate in Birmingham and could be followed by many more as new regulations come into force.

Coventry based taxi manufacturer LEVC, formerly the London Taxi Company, is today launching its Birmingham dealership offering extended range electric taxis and urging drivers to give them a try.

Birmingham currently has illegally and lethally high levels of pollution and most it comes from vehicle engines

So the City Council will from January 1, 2020 refuse licenses for any diesel or petrol vehicles which do not meet high emissions standards - giving drivers until them to either pick up more environmentally friendly cars or, if allowed, retro-fit emmission capture devices to existing cars.

Petrol and diesel cabs could also end up paying a pollution tax to enter the city centre if plans for a clean air zone go ahead.

So the firm is targeting Birmingham.

First city customer Gurmail Bhatoa has worked in the taxi trade since 1996 and wanted to make the switch to electric to benefit from the lower cost of fuel and servicing. He has chosen the TX taxi.


Pictures by Adam Fradgley Pictured: Taxi Driver Gurmail Bhatoa gets his keys and welcome pack for his new electric LEVC taxi cab from Waqar Mahmood (Sales Manager Paul Rigby)

Paul Rigby, managing director of LEVC Birmingham said: “Across the UK, more people are beginning to move away from conventional internal combustion engine vehicles, LEVC is leading this transition in the taxi and commercial vehicle markets – and, along with Volvo and other Geely owned companies, is at the forefront of the push to electrically driven vehicles. I wanted to help lead this transition in Birmingham.”

To support this commitment to electric taxis, the dealership has hired a taxi industry expert, ensured key members of the staff have undergone all the key technical training and is making further investments to improve charging infrastructure at the dealership.

Alongside this 200 electric vehicle charging points are being installed across the city thanks to a £2,9 million Department for Transport fund and plans for extra facilities at the Tyseley Energy Park are also being developed.

Birmingham is also in the running to host an electric car road race for the Formula-E championships.

How much do they cost?

The new taxis sell for about £55,000.

Paying in installments costs around £176 per week.

It means the TX has a potential range of 377 miles and it is estimated it will save drivers around £100 a week on average on their fuel bills.

More about LEVC

The company traditionally made diesel taxis, often referred to as Hackney carriages, at a factory in Holyhead Road, Coventry but the new Ansty Park plant has been created specially to produce electric vehicles.

It represents a £325million investment from LEVC’s Chinese owners Geely, who also own Swedish car maker Volvo.

The new TX, which has been in production since January, is technically a hybrid as it combines battery power with a small petrol generator known as a range extender.

That is still a lot of money for a cab.

I think that electric cars could be the future, but £55,000?

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IDFIMH

They are trying to force Electric cabs on the trade before their price truly reflects what market values will support...and that is a recipe for disaster.