Clive today met with Steve MacNamara, General Secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA) in Westminster to test out the new, fully electric black cab. The electric taxi – the ‘TX’ – hit London’s streets for the first time earlier this year, and already almost 50 are out picking up passengers. Clive and Steve discussed the need to ensure that the charging infrastructure is place to support these cabbies, and help more switch to the new vehicle.

The taxi trade is leading the charge in transitioning London’s transport network to be zero emission. However, drivers need to feel confident when buying the new taxi that widespread accessible, affordable and reliable rapid electric charging infrastructure is in place.

For every minute a taxi driver is off the road, they are losing potential income. This is why installing rapid charge points is essential for the trade as it move’s over to electric vehicles. This week, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan announed that 100 new rapid charge points and now up and running.

Manufactured by the London Electric Vehicle Company in their factory in Coventry, the new electric black cab’s e-City technology allows for a range of up to 400 miles including up to 80 miles pure electric. Alongside its green credentials it has a panoramic sunroof, spacious seating for six passengers, enhanced accessibility features, in-vehicle charging and wi-fi.

Speaking after test driving the new taxi, Clive said:

“Big thanks to the LTDA for letting me test out the new cab.

“This is a big leap forward for the taxi trade and we need to be doing all we can to support more drivers to make this change, and tackle the dangerous levels of air pollution in London.