Taxi Driver Online

Electric black cabs could change Londoners lives says EcoVelocity

Jul 26, 2011at 05:55AM

Imagine how London’s city centre would change if every single black cab were pure-electric powered. That ever-present steely tang of oily fumes would virtually disappear along with the omnipresent rattle of tired old diesel engines (yes, buses would still be an issue but you get the drift).

But how much of the greenhouse gas CO2 could be eliminated? Well, the organisers of EcoVelocity, the low carbon motor show coming to London from September 8, have done the maths. They reckon that a staggering 4,000 tonnes of the stuff could be taken out of London’s atmosphere every single week. The calculation was based on the city’s 22,000 registered black cabs. Furthermore, EcoVelocity reckons that figure would be tripled if the city’s 48,000 private hire minicabs went pure electric.

The study was based on black cabs travelling an average daily mileage of 120 miles. EcoVelocity says that road transport is responsible for around 80% of airborne pollution in central London, where air quality is worst, and black cabs account for 20% of that pollution.

What is less clear is how and where electric black cabs would be recharged – with the average cabbie doing over 120 miles a day, it’s very unlikely that a single charge would get him through the day. For example, a prototype pure-electric Mercedes Benz Vito people carrier went on trial in London last year, with a range of just 75 miles – not nearly enough. So could this be the ideal scenario for battery swapping stations? Or perhaps cab ranks with wireless induction charging pads on the floor?

Electric taxis in urban areas is a catching idea, though – as part of a huge order from New York City for 13,000 of its NV200 van/taxis, Nissan will also be trialling pure electric versions of the vehicle, which could hit the road by 2017. In fact, New York once had the largest fleet of electric cabs in the world – in 1899.

The EcoVelocity Show will be held at Battersea Power Station on September 8-11. It promises to be one of the biggest motoring shows of the year, with attendees bringing their environmentally friendly cars along for showgoers to try. Manufacturers include Citroen, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, SEAT, Vauxhall, Volkswagen, Volvo, Toyota, Lexus and Mia Electric.

For more info and tickets visit www.ecovelocity.co.uk

Source; http://www.thechargingpoint.com/2011/07 ... ovelocity/

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

At £5K a battery?

Dream on.

and imagine all the those carbon emissions required to charge the bloody batteries up!

_________________
42 years now! and still going strong!

Ah but the carbon emmisions due to producing the electricity will still be lower than using petrol or diesel and they won't be your carbon emmisions, they will be the electricity suppliers emmisions.

_________________
Grandad,

Dont mention battery's when Toots is around

They've gone down in price then!!

Last time I heard they were £6,000 to replace.

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

AA!! Her's don't cost £5,000.

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

Yes your right a pack of 6 for £1.00 from pound-land
Unless she has managed to get herself one of those Hitachi wands that plug into the mains

I don't use £1.00 batteries I use the ones the bunnys use

_________________
Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

What else would you use in a bunny but the same batteries that the bunnies use.

_________________
Grandad,