LEVC’s electric taxi revolution is continuing apace

“On production targets, it was harder to ramp up than we were expecting," he says. "It’s the combination of a brand new, more complex product, a brand new facility and new manufacturing processes that have put a lot of tension in the system”.

Despite this, LEVC is now at a stage where it can churn out 6000 examples annually on a single production shift. And it should need this - with a number of clean air zones being established in cities such as Manchester, Glasgow and Birmingham in 2019, demand is expected to increase exponentially.

The firm claims that air quality in London has been positively affected, with quoted stats including 8600 tonnes less CO2 emitted from the taxi sector than 2017, and 1.9 billion mg less NOx. It also notes that “most drivers” are saving around £110 a week in fuel savings. Of course, all of that depends on drivers regularly plugging in.

Gubbey admits that the infrastructure will “likely lag behind demand” for the foreseeable future but states that dedicated taxi charging points have been set up in London, Nottingham, Oxford and Coventry.

And has demand extended to Europe? Well, it’s early stages, with LEVC having just secured a licence to retail the TX in France. But the cabs are operating in the Netherlands, Norway and Germany, with the latter supported greatly by mobility operator Ioki. The TX was chosen to head their Hamburg-based ride-sharing scheme, and the taxis there (pictured above) have carried 70,000 passengers to date.

What’s perhaps surprising is that the planned TX van, using the same chassis and powertrain as the taxi, will only enter the early trial stage next year. It seems like an essential extension of the brand, given the enormous increase in commercial traffic in Britain’s cities. We’ve been told to “watch this space” with that one, so expect further developments early next year.
https://goo.gl/QvKUkg
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 DARWIN

A COUNCIL spot check found a taxi with two minor defects.

The inspection of six cabs in Darwen confirmed all were roadworthy and properly licensed.

One driver was given seven days to rectify a missing heat shield and replace a damaged number plate.

Experts from Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Motor Vehicle Testing Station and licensing officials carried out the unannounced check as part of a regular programme of random inspections of hackney carriages and private hire vehicles.

Cllr Jim Smith, the borough’s executive member for the environment, said: “These taxi checks are important for the safety of the public and are something we carry out regularly to make sure everything is as it should be.

“Taxi drivers have a responsibility to make sure their vehicles are in the best shape for the safety of their customers and other road users. I’m really glad that this showed there were no serious issues with any of the vehicles.

“We will carry out these random checks to ensure all vehicles licensed by the council abide by the law and drivers follow the rules we set.”

https://goo.gl/ZWbkUG
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 WORCESTER

COULD all of Worcester's taxis be the same colour, that is one of the ideas being explored by a group looking at whether introducing a brand for the city's hackney carriages would be beneficial.

Whilst no official decision is remotely close, a city council working group has been weighing up the pros and cons of introducing branding and livery to the entire fleet of Worcester’s taxis and council officers have been in heavy discussion with taxi drivers over its potential.

Ideas include making all of Worcester's taxis a single colour, placing a Worcester City brand on every taxi, introducing the council’s official crest on all vehicles or placing the city council’s name in standard form on every hackney carriage.

A report, to be discussed by the city council’s licensing committee at a meeting on Monday (December 10), said the move to introduce branding was not supported by taxi driver representatives at a recent council taxi forum meeting.

Taxi spokesman cited the “additional and unnecessary” cost to licence holders as the main reason against its introduction and despite licensing officers explaining the “ethos” behind vehicle livery and its possible advantages to taxi drivers and the public, the representatives were “adamant” it should not be introduced.

The possible disadvantages of taxi branding have also been discussed by the group with the potential cost – council estimates say between £250 and £300 per sign per taxi – remaining a huge put off for drivers.

The report also lists paintwork damage from the removal of the branding which could either damage the taxi or hurt its resale value as a reason not to introduce as well as the potential loss of advertising income and the fact it may stop taxi drivers from using their car for private use.

The council feels the benefits of taxi branding are making taxis clearly identifiable which also boosts public safety and security as customers – particularly women and the vulnerable – are more confident that a taxi is properly licensed and meets safety standards which in turn increases trade through increased customer confidence.

The council also feels a local livery creates a strong identity for taxis in the city.

https://goo.gl/2svCnR