LEVC TX | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Manufacturer | London EV Company (Geely) |
Production | 2017–present |
Assembly | United 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 |
Range | 377 mi (607 km) |
Electric range | 80.6 mi (129.7 km) |
Plug-in charging | |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 2,986 mm (117.6 in) |
Length | 4,857 mm (191.2 in) |
Width | 1,874 mm (73.8 in) |
Height | 1,888 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]
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]
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]
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 mpg‑imp (7.7 L/100 km; 30.6 mpg‑US). [15]
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.
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]
A hybrid vehicle is one that uses two or more distinct types of power, such as submarines that use diesel when surfaced and batteries when submerged. Other means to store energy include pressurized fluid in hydraulic hybrids.
A hackney or hackney carriage is a carriage or car for hire. A hackney of a more expensive or high class was called a remise. A symbol of London and Britain, the black taxi is a common sight on the streets of London. The hackney carriages carry a roof sign TAXI that can be illuminated to indicate their availability for passengers.
Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd. (ZGH), commonly known as Geely Holding, is a Chinese multinational conglomerate headquartered in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. The company is privately owned by Chinese entrepreneur Li Shufu, and mainly engaged in the automotive industry.
A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) or simply plug-in hybrid is a type of hybrid electric vehicle equipped with a rechargeable battery pack that can be directly replenished via a charging cable plugged into an external electric power source, in addition to charging internally by its on-board internal combustion engine-powered generator. While PHEVs are predominantly passenger cars, there are also plug-in hybrid variants of sports cars, commercial vehicles, vans, utility trucks, buses, trains, motorcycles, mopeds, military vehicles and boats.
Carbodies was a taxi design and manufacturing company based in Coventry, England. In its latter years it also traded as London Taxis International and The London Taxi Company.
The TX4 is a purpose-built taxicab manufactured by The London Taxi Company, a subsidiary of Geely Automobile of China. From 2007 until their liquidation in 2013 it was manufactured by LTI. It is the latest in a long line of purpose-built taxis produced by The London Taxi Company and various predecessor entities. The design has evolved via several mutations from the Austin FX3 of the 1950s. TX4's immediate predecessor is the TXII.
An electric car or electric vehicle (EV) is a passenger automobile that is propelled by an electric traction motor, using electrical energy as the primary source of propulsion. The term normally refers to a plug-in electric vehicle, typically a battery electric vehicle (BEV), which only uses energy stored in on-board battery packs, but broadly may also include plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), range-extended electric vehicle (REEV) and fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), which can convert electric power from other fuels via a generator or a fuel cell.
A taxi, also known as a taxicab or simply a cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice. This differs from public transport where the pick-up and drop-off locations are decided by the service provider, not by the customers, although demand responsive transport and share taxis provide a hybrid bus/taxi mode.
The Nissan NV200 is a light commercial and leisure activity, 4/5-door van designed and produced by the Japanese automaker Nissan since 2009.
The adoption of plug-in electric vehicles in the United States is supported by the American federal government, and several states and local governments.
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The Kia Niro is a compact crossover SUV (C-segment) manufactured by Kia since 2016. It is an electrification-focused vehicle, offering three versions: hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric variants.
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The Toyota JPN Taxi, sometimes known as the Toyota Japan Taxi, is a hybrid electric taxicab built to universal design specifications mandated by the Japanese government. Exhibited as the JPN Taxi Concept at the 43rd Tokyo Motor Show in 2013, it has been produced by Toyota since 2017, mainly for the Japanese and Hong Kong markets.
London EV Company Limited (LEVC), formerly The London Taxi Corporation Limited, is a British automotive manufacturer with its headquarters at Ansty Park near Coventry, England. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chinese automaker Geely. The company produces London’s famous black taxicabs.
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