Black cab drivers in London will soon have a new weapon in the fight against Uber; an electric hybrid vehicle that’ll also replace the traditional diesel with an efficient petrol engine.
The new battery-powered TX5, which is expected to arrive in the capital by the end of 2017, will help taxis to meet the government’s requirement for zero fuel emissions by 2018.
The vehicle will feature a range extended battery that’s likely to get drivers through the day, although there are no specifics yet on how far it’ll travel on a single charge.
The prototype, unveiled this week by the London Taxi Company, retains much of the iconic design language, while also featuring a new lightweight aluminium body structure.
It’ll also be more spacious and have room for a forward-facing wheelchair, while drivers will also continue to benefit from that innate ability to turn on a sixpence.
See also: Uber ruled legal in London
The cars have been manufactured by Chinese car-maker Geely, the LTC’s parent company, and were revealed as part of a state visit from president Xi Jinping, also attended by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Geely also announced it will invest a further £50m in its new Warwickshire production facility, bringing the total investment to £300m. It’s the first new car factory to be built in the UK in over a decade.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
