Taxi Driver Online

Boris to give black cabs green overhaul

London Mayor Boris Johnson has announced plans to invest £1m in a pilot project designed to test low carbon technologies for the city's taxi fleet. As part of the scheme Transport for London (TfL) and clean technology advisory body Cenex are inviting car manufacturers to put forward proposals for low carbon technologies that could be trialled.

"As well as significantly cutting carbon dioxide emissions, we're looking for taxis that are quieter and produce fewer air pollutants, which will be good news for anyone who spends time in London," said Johnson, adding that taxi drivers should also benefit from lower fuel costs as a result of the shift towards lower carbon vehicles.

David Brown, managing director of surface transport at TfL, said that with over 21,000 taxis on London's roads any improvement in fuel efficiency would lead to "substantial" carbon savings.

TfL said it was leaving it to manufacturers to suggest the best technologies for the demonstration projects, but it did indicate an interest in stop-start or "micro-hybrid" technology capable of cutting out the engine automatically each time the vehicle stops and starting it instantly when the accelerator is pressed. The approach is estimated to curb fuel use by up to 15 per cent, while also cutting carbon and particulate emissions.

Such technologies are already being developed by a number of manufacturers, and TfL said that with taxis spending around 40 per cent of their time waiting at taxi ranks or traffic signals, cabs would be the ideal testing ground for such systems.

In related news, London has this month ended its stint as chair of the C40 group of large cities working to tackle climate change. Mayor of Toronto, David Miller, will now take up leadership of the group, which will rotate between all members of the alliance.

Boris Johnson has been appointed honorary Deputy Chair, a new permanent position designed to help shape the C40's climate change agenda. Johnson said he was keen to promote some of the successful steps London had taken to cut emissions to other member states and was also looking to introduce some measures pioneered by other major cities, such as Paris' popular bike hire scheme.

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IDFIMH

SHIFT towards lower carbon vehicles is the pco finally going to be pushed into changing its antiquated turning circle rules ?

Because that will help to lower carbon emissions how, exactly?

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Former taxi driver

By allowing the use of more efficent vehicle types.
Ones that can manage more miles on a gallon of diesel or ones which use cleaner fuel types.

Picture this:

A design team sit down to consider building a new type taxi for London.
What should be their most important consideration?
Running costs?
Emmisions?
Comfort?
Safety?

or complying with a turning circle rule that belongs in the 19th century and has more to do with maintaining a monopoly than any other reason?

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

Guss, if the turning circle was removed London's finest would be able to do everything you suggested instantly, they could buy the E7 or its equivalents, and reduce emissions by 50% as well

i am sure that LTI know the monopoly is coming to an end hence the deal with Geely in China.

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ALS

After contacting Cenex, to see what is in the pipeline and providing them with a few links from this site especially the one by Bex and the Mercedes link here is both replys.

Thanks for taking the time to contact us.



We understand the frustration that the turning circle requirement must cause. We have already discussed the requirement with the PCO, and they feel that it is still of benefit to London. They’re unwilling to relax the requirement at this point in time, and there is little we can do to change their view.



We hope that the funds that we are putting in place through this initiative will encourage competition from other vehicle providers and give all taxi operators some new options that will reduce your fuel costs while meeting the PCO requirements. On behalf of Cenex, I’ll be doing everything I can to encourage competitor vehicles into the process.



If you’d like to take up the matter with the PCO, their contact details are below.



Best regards,



Ruth Dixon

We’re already in touch with Fraser Nash, and Allied. We’ll do what we can.



Ruth

Ruth Dixon, MEng

Technical Specialist, Cenex Ltd.

tel: +44 (0)1509 635754

mob: +44 (0)7940 512609



www.cenex.co.uk

I wish someone would publish separate league table of vehicle fuel particle emissions and fuel consumption, including buses.

Regards

JD

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