EV taxi firm keeping 850,000 litres of petrol and diesel in the pump

Manufacturer London EV Company (LEVC) has produced its 2,500th electric taxi from its factory in Coventry, which the company says means 850,000 litres of petrol or diesel have not left pumping stations.

LEVC manufactures the ‘world’s only’ purpose-built, range-extended electric ‘TX’ taxi from the factory with 2,000 now being driven across London.

Taxi firms in Birmingham, Coventry, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh have also bought vehicles as have companies in Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Hong Kong and Malaysia.

Taxis are currently responsible for 25% of harmful NOx emissions and next year they will be the biggest source of transport pollution in central London. TfL has a target to reduce emissions from taxis by 65% by 2025.

Taxis are exempt from London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) charges but from January 2018, all new taxis licensed for the first time must be zero-emission capable (ZEC).

LEVC says its taxis have prevented 6,800 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere — the same as 1,500 return flights from London to Sydney — and they’ve reduced NOx emissions by 99.5 per cent over a traditional black cab.

The TX eCity range extender powertrain allows the taxi to run in full electric mode for up to 80 miles. In addition, the move to electric will save drivers on average £110 a week in fuel. Whilst on a PCP contract the vehicle will cost £184 per week, which compares with £167 per week for the outgoing diesel vehicle.

Shirley Rodrigues, London’s Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy said: ‘In addition to increased walking, cycling and using cleaner public transport, electric vehicles can help reduce pollution and address our climate emergency. It’s fantastic news there are now more than 2,000 electric taxis on London’s road as we move away from more polluting petrol and diesel vehicles.

‘The Mayor has delivered bold action to reduce air pollution in London from introducing the Ultra-Low Emission Zone in central London to transforming our bus fleet. Having the greenest taxi fleet in the world is key to this and I congratulate LEVC on their innovative low emission electric fleet.’

Photo Credit – LEVC