London taxi benefits from a new, more efficient battery

The manufacturer London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) has announced an update to the battery used in its TX model, notably the London taxis.

Traditions have their merits. The iconic black London Cab managed to reinvent itself when the English capital decided, in 2018, to retire all the old-fashioned petrol taxis and polluters. The criticism was fierce at first, but since then, the transition has proven to be a wise decision. Moreover, the newer models are less prone to breakdowns and more comfortable, and beyond nostalgia, everyone agrees it was the right choice. Since then, 8,500 units of the TX have been circulated in the City.

Another concern about this shift came from the origin of the manufacturer chosen for this environmentally friendly change: LEVC, or London Electric Vehicle Company, is not British but Chinese, and its owner is the giant Geely (Volvo, Lotus, Lynk & Co…). In reality, the London taxi is not fully electric but rather hybrid.

The 2023 model benefits from a brand-new 34.6 kWh electric battery, allowing its range in 100% electric mode to now reach 78 miles (up to), or approximately 125 kilometers. This represents a significant gain of 14 miles, or about 20 kilometers. Charging has also improved to avoid slowing down drivers: in addition to AC charging options of 3, 7, 11, and 22 kW, the new TX accepts up to 50 kW DC fast charging. This enables it to recover 20 to 80% of its charge in 30 minutes. In short, the time of a quick Chips & Chips.

Its warranty is 3 years or 120,000 kilometers, and importantly, the rental-only price is £179 per week, or £716 per month (about 830 euros). Since 2018, London taxis have traveled nearly a billion kilometers and helped save 173,000 tons of CO2 emissions in the UK capital.

Note that the TX is also available as a utility version for professionals under the name VN5.

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