London “Black Cab” Company Begins EV Production

The maker of London’s iconic black taxis has launched production in Coventry of a range-extended all-electric model it expects to market in England and overseas.

The new “TX5” cab from the London Taxi Co. (LTC) replaces a design that is nearly 60 years old with a updated model made with aluminum and composites. The car runs exclusively on electric power but carries a small piston engine that can recharge the vehicle to enable all-day operation.

The six-passenger vehicle will be wheelchair-accessible and is expected to offer such conveniences as in-car wi-fi and charging ports for personal electronic devices.

LTC developed the taxi with the help of a £300 million ($375 million) bond issue secured last year. The Coventry operation has capacity to make 36,000 vehicles annually. The company says it plans to develop other hybrid or all-electric vehicles, including light commercial trucks and vans.

LTC will begin selling the electric taxi in England in the fourth quarter this year and in undetermined other European countries in early 2018. London has mandated that all new cabs sold in the city from next January must be able to operate in zero-emission mode.

The taxi maker was rescued from bankruptcy four years ago by China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. The new model was created at Geely’s design center in Barcelona, Spain, and uses electric powertrain technology from the company's Volvo Cars unit.