The next generation of the iconic London taxi has been fully revealed, with order books opening on 1 August.
Built by London EV Company (LEVC), formerly known as London Taxi Company, the new taxi is powered by a 1.3-litre petrol engine mated to an electric motor.
The range-extender technology allows the black cab to run for up to 400 miles between refills, with “well over” 70 miles of that being zero emissions.
LEVC is a subsidiary of Volvo owner Geely and the firm claims that drivers of the new taxi will save an average of £100 a week in fuel costs compared with those who drive the outgoing diesel-powered model.
Further details are being kept under wraps at this stage, with more information becoming available later this year.
“Today is an incredibly exciting day for the company, for the world’s cities, for the air we breathe and for the drivers of commercial vehicles,” said Chris Gubbey, CEO of LEVC. “The launch of LEVC marks Britain’s leadership as a first mover in creating the world’s only dedicated electric vehicle company for the urban commercial market.”
He added: “London has led the way in setting out tough measures to reduce taxi and van emissions and in just a few short years we expect EVs for the commercial operator will not just become commonplace, but mandatory in cities around the world, creating huge opportunities for LEVC globally.”
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