7 replies to this topic

[mariner]

Strictly speaking the new EV London cab is not purely an EV as it has range extender IC engine for long trips but it will spend most of its life in EV mode pounding the streets of London.

 

Despite the square cut drab black exterior is actually an advanced design using a glued together extruded aluminium frame as la Lotus Elise. and some clever features like built in wheelchair ramp.

 

Production volumes are low as the London cab market is small, but it has a 300K design life. For an extra £600 you get the warranty extended from 120K miles/ 3 years to 150K miles / 5 years 

 

The top of the range model is £71K  including 20% VAT. and weighs 2230kg. with a 31KWH battery. 

 

0 to 60 mph is 13 seconds, and its EV efficiency is 2.5 miles per KWH.

 

The full spec is here 

 

https://levc.com/wp-..._Spec_Guide.pdf

 

 

Now, interestingly the Audi E-tron EV SUV also costs £71K  and weighs 2490kg. It has . a 75KWH battery and gets to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. Its EV efficiency is 2.3 miles per KWH.

 

Road test here 

https://www.autocar....iew/audi/e-tron

 

What interests me is that two EV's with totally different goals are so similar in size , price and power efficiency.

 

The Taxi has 7 seats and a wheelchair space the Audi has acceleration better than most IC cars. Also, the size of mfr sems to have had no impact on the asking price!

 

It wil be interesting to look back in 10 years  and if the "German uber power " approach is more popular than the LEVC approach of user driven design.

 

 

 

 

[flatlandsman]

Constantly advertising for workers aswell, working God awful shift to make the things!A nd not paying that well to be honest, but fair i would say. 

[404KF2]

300K miles as a "design life" for a taxi seems short. Most ICE taxis over here (lots of Priuses too) will do a million km in six years without too much complaint. Typical taxis do 100K miles per year over here.

 

I do like the look of the thing though.

[desmo]

What other city requires its own cab design? Always struck me as odd. The cab itself looks brilliant and is instantly recognizable as a London Taxi. I've seen a few retired London Taxis repurposed as personal cars, and this one looks like a decent candidate for non-commercial use as well.

[Magoo]

What other city requires its own cab design? Always struck me as odd. The cab itself looks brilliant and is instantly recognizable as a London Taxi. I've seen a few retired London Taxis repurposed as personal cars, and this one looks like a decent candidate for non-commercial use as well.

 

The city of New York once had its own taxi regulations that demanded a specialized vehicle, met by DeSoto and Checker. The NYC taxi laws probably kept Checker in business. 

[desmo]

The Markins lived two blocks away from me in Kalamazoo 

[mariner]

The most famous "special spec." in the London cab rules is a turning circle of under 28ft. This arose so cabs to turn round in the entrance to the Savoy hotel - yes really 

 

 

https://www.alamy.co...-141087209.html

 

 

Autocar has now put its Black Cab EV test up on it's website - it makes very interesting reading I think., they rate the ride better than a Range Rover on speed bumps!

 

There is an explanation of the special steering linkages used to get the turning circle so small. 

 

https://www.autocar....-review/levc/tx

[Bob Riebe]

For you Electromobile lovers :  https://www.motor1.c...9_InsiderNL_262