Electric London cabs.
Discussion
I’ve been in a few in the past couple of days and I don’t like them. Or the ride at least.
Only one driver managed to drive the car in a comfortable way. The others accelerated like a missile and then braked like he had dropped an anchor.
I presume that something about the cars rewards that type of driving. I imagine they have regenerative braking, but what is the acceleration all about? Is it more efficient or something?
The suspension also seemed harsh.
I found myself actively seeking out diesel cabs.
Only one driver managed to drive the car in a comfortable way. The others accelerated like a missile and then braked like he had dropped an anchor.
I presume that something about the cars rewards that type of driving. I imagine they have regenerative braking, but what is the acceleration all about? Is it more efficient or something?
The suspension also seemed harsh.
I found myself actively seeking out diesel cabs.
I’m the opposite, I seek out the electric taxis.
The ride (to me) is the same but the low / no emissions (at the point of use) is great.
My bigger concern is how do they get enough charging points into Central London so the electric cabs can run on electric for longer and not really on the onboard petrol fuelled electricity backup generator.
Typically I’m not a Guardian reader, however
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/may/16/ul...
Suggests that pollution in cities can be drastically reduced if you take away diesels, which is good news (I accept that the emissions have been moved elsewhere when using EVs but I assume that the impact can be managed more effectively at a power plant than from individual combustion engines).
The ride (to me) is the same but the low / no emissions (at the point of use) is great.
My bigger concern is how do they get enough charging points into Central London so the electric cabs can run on electric for longer and not really on the onboard petrol fuelled electricity backup generator.
Typically I’m not a Guardian reader, however
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/may/16/ul...
Suggests that pollution in cities can be drastically reduced if you take away diesels, which is good news (I accept that the emissions have been moved elsewhere when using EVs but I assume that the impact can be managed more effectively at a power plant than from individual combustion engines).
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.
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.
I know a couple of black cab drivers. Usually there is a dayshift and nightshift driver who share one cab.
So would electric cabs not either mean the effective capital cost increasing as the cab couldn't be double shifted or the cabs needing downtime during the shift to charge?
I guess a fast charge during a refreshment break could do it as well.
I can see shared cabs being an issue when the nightshift driver drops the cab of for the day shift with a near flat battery.
So would electric cabs not either mean the effective capital cost increasing as the cab couldn't be double shifted or the cabs needing downtime during the shift to charge?
I guess a fast charge during a refreshment break could do it as well.
I can see shared cabs being an issue when the nightshift driver drops the cab of for the day shift with a near flat battery.
sasha320 said:
Typically I’m not a Guardian reader, however
Should that be "not a reader"?sasha320 said:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/may/16/ul...
Suggests that pollution in cities can be drastically reduced if you take away diesels,
The article specifically states that it was too early to report any change in pollution levels.Suggests that pollution in cities can be drastically reduced if you take away diesels,
Andy
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.
The vast majority of electric cab drivers I have spoken to a) only have an electric cab because they have off street parking in the suburbs and can charge overnight and b) they consume a hefty chunk of the battery capacity getting into Central London.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.
Most therefore claim they can’t do a day’s work on a single full charge, coupled with the fact that the first charge will come up around the busy lunchtime ‘shift’ which in turn means that most won’t charge until mid-afternoon and then they’ll only really be charging to get home.
The challenge of finding an empty (cheap) public charger, combined with the understandable temptation to rely on the petrol generator to get home ASAP; means that electric cab drivers are simply halving their fuel bill by using a combination of overnight electricity and petrol.
Still a significant £ saving for them in power and for the air we breath in the city.
andyalan10 said:
sasha320 said:
Typically I’m not a Guardian reader, however
Should that be "not a reader"?sasha320 said:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/may/16/ul...
Suggests that pollution in cities can be drastically reduced if you take away diesels,
The article specifically states that it was too early to report any change in pollution levels.Suggests that pollution in cities can be drastically reduced if you take away diesels,
Andy
For your consideration
suggest
/səˈdʒɛst/
1. put forward for consideration.
2. cause one to think that (something) exists or is the case
Brother’s a black cab driver and recently upgraded to the new ‘lecy ones. Night and day difference to him. Old diesel ones were a piece of s
t in comparison - horrible to drive, crashy suspension, unreliable (he’d had a few!) and not very economical at all.
He has a range extender petrol engine in his and he uses the petrol engine to get him into London where he then switches over to electric only and this will last him the day (with maybe a quick fast charge while he has a break if he’s been especially busy) and then petrol mode for going home. He’s saving a small fortune in fuel costs and the cab is soooooo much more comfortable than the old clunker he had before. People’s attitudes are also changing where passengers are happy to let a diesel cab go and wait for an electric one to show. This shift in attitude is also encouraging drivers who’d wanted to wait before changing to speed up their decision to change. Win all round.
Made by Geely and built on a Volvo platform I think.
t in comparison - horrible to drive, crashy suspension, unreliable (he’d had a few!) and not very economical at all.He has a range extender petrol engine in his and he uses the petrol engine to get him into London where he then switches over to electric only and this will last him the day (with maybe a quick fast charge while he has a break if he’s been especially busy) and then petrol mode for going home. He’s saving a small fortune in fuel costs and the cab is soooooo much more comfortable than the old clunker he had before. People’s attitudes are also changing where passengers are happy to let a diesel cab go and wait for an electric one to show. This shift in attitude is also encouraging drivers who’d wanted to wait before changing to speed up their decision to change. Win all round.
Made by Geely and built on a Volvo platform I think.
valiant said:
Brother’s a black cab driver and recently upgraded to the new ‘lecy ones. Night and day difference to him. Old diesel ones were a piece of st in comparison - horrible to drive, crashy suspension, unreliable (he’d had a few!) and not very economical at all.
He has a range extender petrol engine in his and he uses the petrol engine to get him into London where he then switches over to electric only and this will last him the day (with maybe a quick fast charge while he has a break if he’s been especially busy) and then petrol mode for going home. He’s saving a small fortune in fuel costs and the cab is soooooo much more comfortable than the old clunker he had before. People’s attitudes are also changing where passengers are happy to let a diesel cab go and wait for an electric one to show. This shift in attitude is also encouraging drivers who’d wanted to wait before changing to speed up their decision to change. Win all round.
Made by Geely and built on a Volvo platform I think.
They certainly seem to be taking off. A year a go I would possibly see one between the station and the office (about a 10 minute walk). Now I probably see one in each road I walk down.t in comparison - horrible to drive, crashy suspension, unreliable (he’d had a few!) and not very economical at all.He has a range extender petrol engine in his and he uses the petrol engine to get him into London where he then switches over to electric only and this will last him the day (with maybe a quick fast charge while he has a break if he’s been especially busy) and then petrol mode for going home. He’s saving a small fortune in fuel costs and the cab is soooooo much more comfortable than the old clunker he had before. People’s attitudes are also changing where passengers are happy to let a diesel cab go and wait for an electric one to show. This shift in attitude is also encouraging drivers who’d wanted to wait before changing to speed up their decision to change. Win all round.
Made by Geely and built on a Volvo platform I think.
Personally I would definitely let a diesel cab go by to hail an electric one
valiant said:
Brother’s a black cab driver and recently upgraded to the new ‘lecy ones. Night and day difference to him. Old diesel ones were a piece of st in comparison - horrible to drive, crashy suspension, unreliable (he’d had a few!) and not very economical at all.
He has a range extender petrol engine in his and he uses the petrol engine to get him into London where he then switches over to electric only and this will last him the day (with maybe a quick fast charge while he has a break if he’s been especially busy) and then petrol mode for going home. He’s saving a small fortune in fuel costs and the cab is soooooo much more comfortable than the old clunker he had before. People’s attitudes are also changing where passengers are happy to let a diesel cab go and wait for an electric one to show. This shift in attitude is also encouraging drivers who’d wanted to wait before changing to speed up their decision to change. Win all round.
Made by Geely and built on a Volvo platform I think.
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.t in comparison - horrible to drive, crashy suspension, unreliable (he’d had a few!) and not very economical at all.He has a range extender petrol engine in his and he uses the petrol engine to get him into London where he then switches over to electric only and this will last him the day (with maybe a quick fast charge while he has a break if he’s been especially busy) and then petrol mode for going home. He’s saving a small fortune in fuel costs and the cab is soooooo much more comfortable than the old clunker he had before. People’s attitudes are also changing where passengers are happy to let a diesel cab go and wait for an electric one to show. This shift in attitude is also encouraging drivers who’d wanted to wait before changing to speed up their decision to change. Win all round.
Made by Geely and built on a Volvo platform I think.
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.
If they accelerate quickly there's a sudden spike in electricity to the meter, and when they brake hard they have increased regen - win win for a cabbie (maybe)! 
vikingaero 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.
If they accelerate quickly there's a sudden spike in electricity to the meter, and when they brake hard they have increased regen - win win for a cabbie (maybe)! His interpretation of "brilliant" and mine clearly differed.
AddisonLee would be cheaper and way more comfortable!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?
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?
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