Electric London cabs.
Discussion
Black cabs are absolutely the worst taxi "service" outside of the third world. Incredibly polluting, vast overpriced and driven by unhelpful obnoxious pricks who - contrary to popular acclaim - are ignorant of many destinations and frequently choose terrible routes.
Sooner they're gone, the better. If we want London to look 'pretty' for the tourists, then the easy solution is for TfL to sponsor a couple of hundred Uber drivers to use the the LEVC TXs.
Sooner they're gone, the better. If we want London to look 'pretty' for the tourists, then the easy solution is for TfL to sponsor a couple of hundred Uber drivers to use the the LEVC TXs.
SkodaIan said:
Given how slow traffic is in Central London, I bet many cabs don't do much more than 150 miles in a shift unless they get some longer suburban runs.
I think I've seen somewhere that they have a 200 mile range or thereabouts so probably enough for the average shift. The big advantage of electric cars is that their range isn't affected anywhere near as much as petrol or diesel engines when in stop start traffic as energy use is near zero when stopped.
You ever heard a black cabbie once you say you have along suburban journey? You get to hear his world's problems how many kids he has to feed. Short and many trips are preferable to them in my experience.I think I've seen somewhere that they have a 200 mile range or thereabouts so probably enough for the average shift. The big advantage of electric cars is that their range isn't affected anywhere near as much as petrol or diesel engines when in stop start traffic as energy use is near zero when stopped.
Venisonpie said:
Challo said:
How much are the new electric cabs for drivers to buy?
I take it the half fuel cost offset some of that fee?
Circa 65k. I'm touring the factory in a couple of weeks to explore the potential to use them in a different configuration for alternative use (still in London).I take it the half fuel cost offset some of that fee?
Havent been to london for a few months, but Im sure there is still a huge number of very old cabs knocking around. If they can continue to use the old ones, why would they change?
So said:
The new ones seem greater in number every time I go down. I suspect they are being pushed quite hard in that direction.
£7.5k for buying a leccy one, and £10k for ditching a diesel one, plus a ban on new diesel ones, progressive reductions in age limits for Euro 3, 4 and 5 diesels and free charging in Q-Parks. Challo said:
Venisonpie said:
Challo said:
How much are the new electric cabs for drivers to buy?
I take it the half fuel cost offset some of that fee?
Circa 65k. I'm touring the factory in a couple of weeks to explore the potential to use them in a different configuration for alternative use (still in London).I take it the half fuel cost offset some of that fee?
Havent been to london for a few months, but Im sure there is still a huge number of very old cabs knocking around. If they can continue to use the old ones, why would they change?
The current fleet have a maximum of 12 years life from 2017, I believe, so the last diesel cabs will be off the road by 2029 though I suspect it'll be a lot sooner than that as the new electric ones are just so much cheaper to run and passengers will in any case refuse to use the old rattle-trap cabs.
longblackcoat said:
Challo said:
Venisonpie said:
Challo said:
How much are the new electric cabs for drivers to buy?
I take it the half fuel cost offset some of that fee?
Circa 65k. I'm touring the factory in a couple of weeks to explore the potential to use them in a different configuration for alternative use (still in London).I take it the half fuel cost offset some of that fee?
Havent been to london for a few months, but Im sure there is still a huge number of very old cabs knocking around. If they can continue to use the old ones, why would they change?
The current fleet have a maximum of 12 years life from 2017, I believe, so the last diesel cabs will be off the road by 2029 though I suspect it'll be a lot sooner than that as the new electric ones are just so much cheaper to run and passengers will in any case refuse to use the old rattle-trap cabs.
paultownsend said:
Slightly off topic but I was walking back to Nottingham station on Saturday. I counted over 20 taxi’s in the waiting line. Two were electric, the rest diesel, six with their engines on. Why? They were not moving. If I needed one I would seek out the electric. But I can see that this will eventually create tension between the drivers.
I cannot see how some of the older cabs are road legal.
I then jumped in my stinking diesel train as they won’t electrify the lines. Still, it was heavily overcrowded so that reduces individual carbon footprint, right?
Drivers of diesels in general seem very inclined to sit waiting with their engines running. I've no idea why, but I wish they wouldn't.I cannot see how some of the older cabs are road legal.
I then jumped in my stinking diesel train as they won’t electrify the lines. Still, it was heavily overcrowded so that reduces individual carbon footprint, right?
So said:
I found myself actively seeking out diesel cabs.
Each to their own and all that. I personally cannot stand the noise any 4 pot diesel banger makes. In a black cab it's even worse than normal as the whole structure shudders in unison with the horrible old chugging rattling banging dag dag boat anchor under the bonnet.
I hate the experience with a vengeance and getting into an eletric one is bliss in comparison.
AC43 said:
So said:
I found myself actively seeking out diesel cabs.
Each to their own and all that. I personally cannot stand the noise any 4 pot diesel banger makes. In a black cab it's even worse than normal as the whole structure shudders in unison with the horrible old chugging rattling banging dag dag boat anchor under the bonnet.
I hate the experience with a vengeance and getting into an eletric one is bliss in comparison.
Now I'd seek out an electric one for a short hop, no question.
So said:
Perhaps I just got unlucky with my drivers this time then, but it was a bit like being in a track car - acceleration or braking and not much in between. Or perhaps the electric cabs just encourage driving that isn't possible in diesels.
They probably just got the cab and still excited about the performance, give it a few months and they will calm down.Went to ISE a few years back, Schipol airport had just green so only electric cars were allowed in the ranks closest to the airport.
There was a mixture of Leafs and Tesla's, naturally took the Tesla and the driver booted it at every opportunity which was great going from the airport but coming back hungover wasn't as appreciated.
iirc TFL had the same issue with hybrid buses and so reduced the rate of acceleration from standstill so passengers were less likely to fall over so perhaps if there's a demand for less performance from customers then the cabs will have the performance off the line reduced.
untakenname said:
So said:
Perhaps I just got unlucky with my drivers this time then, but it was a bit like being in a track car - acceleration or braking and not much in between. Or perhaps the electric cabs just encourage driving that isn't possible in diesels.
They probably just got the cab and still excited about the performance, give it a few months and they will calm down.Went to ISE a few years back, Schipol airport had just green so only electric cars were allowed in the ranks closest to the airport.
There was a mixture of Leafs and Tesla's, naturally took the Tesla and the driver booted it at every opportunity which was great going from the airport but coming back hungover wasn't as appreciated.
iirc TFL had the same issue with hybrid buses and so reduced the rate of acceleration from standstill so passengers were less likely to fall over so perhaps if there's a demand for less performance from customers then the cabs will have the performance off the line reduced.
Spoke to an electric cab driver yesterday and he claimed that the electric cab did 55 miles on a single charge.
He also said he charged it a couple of times per week away from home.
In turn this all suggests that the EV cabbies are using an overnight charge and topping up from time to time but potentially using the petrol generator most of the time.
Better than TX4 diesels but a long way of a transition to fully or mostly electric.
No pun but I guess we’re on a journey migrating to fully electric.
He also said he charged it a couple of times per week away from home.
In turn this all suggests that the EV cabbies are using an overnight charge and topping up from time to time but potentially using the petrol generator most of the time.
Better than TX4 diesels but a long way of a transition to fully or mostly electric.
No pun but I guess we’re on a journey migrating to fully electric.
Edited by sasha320 on Tuesday 25th February 09:06
Edited by sasha320 on Tuesday 25th February 09:11
sasha320 said:
Spoke to an electric cab driver yesterday and he claimed that the electric cab did 55 miles on a single charge.
He also said he charged it a couple of times per week away from home.
In turn this all suggests that the EV cabbies are using an overnight charge and topping up from time to time but potentially using the petrol generator most of the time.
Better than TX4 diesels but a long way of a transition to fully or mostly electric.
No pun but I guess we’re on a journey migrating to fully electric.
I see them daily in London and I have never heard one with the engine running. He also said he charged it a couple of times per week away from home.
In turn this all suggests that the EV cabbies are using an overnight charge and topping up from time to time but potentially using the petrol generator most of the time.
Better than TX4 diesels but a long way of a transition to fully or mostly electric.
No pun but I guess we’re on a journey migrating to fully electric.
Edited by sasha320 on Tuesday 25th February 09:06
Edited by sasha320 on Tuesday 25th February 09:11
Was chatting about this with friends today - specifically that the old cabs were so slow and had such a crude chassis the average cabbie could be driving foot to the boards and right on the limit without the passengers noticing any difference from the usual rattling and bouncing. The new electric ones are somewhat different, they do take off quite impressively from low speeds.
sasha320 said:
You won’t, they have an onboard electricity generator fuelled by petrol.
Not an internal combustion engine.
How does that petrol-powered electric generator work then, if it's not an internal combustion engine? Is the petrol burned to heat up a big water tank and the electricity generated by a steam-turbine or what?Not an internal combustion engine.
sasha320 said:
98elise said:
I see them daily in London and I have never heard one with the engine running.
You won’t, they have an onboard electricity generator fuelled by petrol.Not an internal combustion engine.
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