London Taxi TX5

Author
Discussion

ajprice

Original Poster:

27,311 posts

195 months

Saturday 11th March 2017
quotequote all
It's coming in time for the new 2018 laws in London stating that taxi cabs must be capable of running zero emissions, so its a range extender hybrid, similar setup to a Volt/Ampera or i3 REx. No more diesel black cabs.

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/spy-shots/london-taxi...

davepoth

29,395 posts

198 months

Saturday 11th March 2017
quotequote all
It can only be a good thing IMO. No more clattery diesels idling filthily outside train stations!

untakenname

4,951 posts

191 months

Saturday 11th March 2017
quotequote all
Hopefully that's not what the finished product will be, looks like an updated Metrocab as the iconic rounded shape has been lost on that (mainly the lights).

mac96

3,715 posts

142 months

Saturday 11th March 2017
quotequote all
As someone who has the pleasure of walking along a narrow street full of stationary/crawling cabs every night, I don't care what it looks like provided the diesel engine is gone!

hairyben

8,516 posts

182 months

Sunday 12th March 2017
quotequote all
Hopefully the 2018 cab regs will force a few manufacturers to produce larger platforms suitable for LCVs as thats what tx competitors are generally based on and I can replace the vito with something i can rack out and keep for more than a couple of years.

Not sure about battery/electric saving the world but it'll make london streets nicer.

Gb908010

87 posts

92 months

Sunday 12th March 2017
quotequote all
Been involved with this project for a few years now, supplied all the tooling for the assembly.
Built on a xc90 platform

herewego

8,814 posts

212 months

Monday 13th March 2017
quotequote all
ajprice said:
It's coming in time for the new 2018 laws in London stating that taxi cabs must be capable of running zero emissions, so its a range extender hybrid, similar setup to a Volt/Ampera or i3 REx. No more diesel black cabs.

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/spy-shots/london-taxi...
Is that all cabs or all new cabs?

Zirconium

80 posts

88 months

Monday 13th March 2017
quotequote all
So where are these going to be charged up? They will very quickly exceed their electric only range I would have thought.

Plug Life

978 posts

90 months

Monday 13th March 2017
quotequote all
Zirconium said:
So where are these going to be charged up? They will very quickly exceed their electric only range I would have thought.
What is their electric-only range?

XE11

15 posts

86 months

Monday 13th March 2017
quotequote all
would be nice to see all bus, taxi and uber being forced to some form of hybrid if not all EV.

hairyben

8,516 posts

182 months

Monday 13th March 2017
quotequote all
Zirconium said:
So where are these going to be charged up? They will very quickly exceed their electric only range I would have thought.
At least they'll have a legit reason for turning down fares...

modeller

443 posts

165 months

Tuesday 14th March 2017
quotequote all
Gb908010 said:
Been involved with this project for a few years now, supplied all the tooling for the assembly.
Built on a xc90 platform
The new platform?

hedges88

639 posts

144 months

Tuesday 14th March 2017
quotequote all
modeller said:
Gb908010 said:
Been involved with this project for a few years now, supplied all the tooling for the assembly.
Built on a xc90 platform
The new platform?
I don't know a lot about Volvo's or the XC90 so forgive if any of the questions are stupid, but I take it's no longer a ladder chassis?

Do you happen to know what engine is going to be the generator and who will supply it?

erics

2,659 posts

210 months

Wednesday 15th March 2017
quotequote all
Given the selling price which will be £50k or more, expect a couple of decades before you see them around. Lots of drivers will run their old cars into the ground.

mcflurry

9,079 posts

252 months

Thursday 16th March 2017
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hairyben said:
At least they'll have a legit reason for turning down fares...
No chargers south of the river ?

donkmeister

7,995 posts

99 months

Thursday 16th March 2017
quotequote all
Zirconium said:
So where are these going to be charged up? They will very quickly exceed their electric only range I would have thought.
In Milton Keynes they have electric buses running round the town centre that charge wirelessly at bus stops - inductive pad built in to the road.
It would be an interesting idea to build a similar system in at taxi ranks and green-sheds.
Not part of the plan i realise but an interesting idea.

supermono

7,368 posts

247 months

Thursday 16th March 2017
quotequote all
I couldn't care less how well or badly the new cabs work but provided they crush the stinking old clunkers, as said idling at the side of the road and laying out yards of soot and other pollution when they pull away, I'll be happy.

Even if they're always on provided they're running petrol engines the pollution issues in London will nearly disappear overnight. Almost nothing but harmless water and carbon dioxide even with a flat battery.

Gb908010

87 posts

92 months

Thursday 16th March 2017
quotequote all
London taxi are owned by geely automotive who also own volvo hence the tie up between them both.
Bosch have supplied and supported alot of the ev technology. A company called emerald automotive have done the engineering side of things. Starts production in June July time.

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 16th March 2017
quotequote all
I assume the Taxi uses the same 'hang-on' Electric Drive Unit (EDU) as the XC90 hybrid? Around 60kW across the back axle, giving 4wd without needed a propshaft from the front.

Zirconium

80 posts

88 months

Friday 17th March 2017
quotequote all
donkmeister said:
Zirconium said:
So where are these going to be charged up? They will very quickly exceed their electric only range I would have thought.
In Milton Keynes they have electric buses running round the town centre that charge wirelessly at bus stops - inductive pad built in to the road.
It would be an interesting idea to build a similar system in at taxi ranks and green-sheds.
Not part of the plan i realise but an interesting idea.
Yes, inductive charging at taxi ranks would seem to make sense.