LEVC TX

Last updated

LEVC TX
2019 LEVC TX Vista Comfort Plus 1.5.jpg
2019 LEVC TX Vista
Overview
Manufacturer London EV Company (Geely)
Production2017–present
AssemblyUnited Kingdom: Coventry (Ansty Park plant)
China: Yiwu (Geely)
Body and chassis
Body style Hackney carriage
Layout Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Doors
Related LEVC VN5
Powertrain
Engine
Electric motor 2x 110 kW (150 PS) Siemens permanent magnet synchronous
Hybrid drivetrain Plug-in series hybrid
Battery 31 kW·h, 400 V lithium ion
Range377 mi (607 km)
Electric range 80.6 mi (129.7 km)
Plug-in charging
  • 22 kW AC
  • 50 kW DC
Dimensions
Wheelbase 2,986 mm (117.6 in)
Length4,857 mm (191.2 in)
Width1,874 mm (73.8 in)
Height1,888 mm (74.3 in)
Kerb weight 2,230 kg (4,916 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor TX4

The LEVC TX [1] (previously known as the TX5) is a purpose-built hackney carriage manufactured by the British commercial vehicle maker London EV Company (LEVC), a subsidiary of the Chinese carmaker Geely. [2] It is the latest in a succession of purpose-built hackney carriages produced by LEVC and various predecessor entities. The LEVC TX is a plug-in hybrid range-extender electric vehicle. [2] [3]

Contents

The vehicle is designed to comply with Transport for London’s Taxi Private Hire regulations, which banned new diesel-powered taxis from January 2018, requiring zero-emissions capability. [4]

Background

In the late 2000s, Geely was in talks over the possibility of converting London's black cabs into electric-powered vehicles. [5] From 2014, Geely invested £480m in LEVC to develop a new taxi, with a new factory to be built near Coventry. [6] [7] [8] Geely hoped to manufacture 36,000 vehicles per annum. [9] The vehicle entered production in 2017. [6]

In January 2020, LEVC announced plans to market the TX in Japan [10] with Fleetway and Service Company as the Japanese distributor. [11] Deliveries were reported to be made in Q2 2020. [11]

LEVC reported that taxis were sold in Azerbaijan for Baku Taxi Service in March 2020. [12]

Technical

Rear view 2019 LEVC TX Vista Comfort Plus 7.jpg
Rear view

The LEVC TX is built on a unique platform, underpinned by a bonded aluminium chassis built in the UK, giving the LEVC TX a 32 percent parts localisation rate by value. China and Europe each account for 32 percent of the content, while United States content is 4 percent. [13]

The LEVC TX is powered by a full-electric hybrid drivetrain. It drives in full-electric mode all the time, but is recharged by an 81-horsepower (60 kW; 82 PS) Volvo-sourced 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine.

The LEVC TX is fitted with a 33 kilowatt-hours (120 MJ) battery pack supplied by LG Chem, and powers a 110-kilowatt (148 hp; 150 PS) Siemens-built electric motor for traction. [14]

When the battery pack has insufficient charge to power the vehicle, the petrol engine is claimed to achieve 36.7 mpgimp (7.7 L/100 km; 30.6 mpgUS). [15]

Suicide doors on the TX LEVC TX London Taxi, Charing Cross Station - geograph.org.uk - 5910490.jpg
Suicide doors on the TX

The charge connectors are mounted either side of the radiator grille, and are a CCS socket, capable of 50 kW DC and 22 kW AC, and an optional 50 kW capable CHAdeMO connector. [16]

In accordance to London taxi regulation, the LEVC TX offers a turning circle of 8.45 metres (27.7 ft) (4.23 m (13.9 ft) of radius) which made possible by the front wheels that turn up to 63 degrees, instead of the typical 38 degrees. [17] [18] The LEVC TX also has a wheelchair ramp, which can be manually deployed by the driver when required.

Service history

The TX took advantage of 2018 Transport for London rules that allowed only zero-emission capable vehicles to become additions to the city's taxi fleet. [19] By February 2018 it was the only taxi capable of meeting these rules. [19] [20]

By April 2022, over 5,000 TX vehicles has been sold in London, around a third of London's taxi fleet. [21] In May 2022, LEVC announced that over 7,000 taxis had been sold worldwide. [22]

Outside London, the TX5 also serves as a taxi in Austria, [23] Australia, [24] Azerbaijan, [25] China, [24] Denmark, [11] France, [11] Germany, [26] India, [27] Israel, [28] [29] Japan, [30] Poland, [31] Spain [32] and Switzerland. [11]

See also

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References

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