Geely Looking to Bring Electric Taxis to London
20 October 2008
Financial Times. Geely, the Chinese automaker which owns about 23% of Manganese Bronze, parent of LTI Vehicles, one of the main manufacturers of London black cabs, is proposing converting the iconic cabs to electric.
“One of our ideas is to convert London taxis into electric,” Li Shufu, the company’s chairman, told the Financial Times. “We are doing research on this project.”
In addition to its 23% stake in Manganese Bronze, Geely owns 51% of a Shanghai-based joint venture (LTI Shanghai Automobile) with Manganese Bronze that will begin producing the cars in China beginning this December. LTI Shanghai Automobile plans to sell the China-built cabs to taxi operators, hotels, and other buyers in China and overseas, with a view eventually to building 10,000 vehicles a year, according to the FT.
In April, Manganese Bronze signed an agreement with the Tanfield Group, parent of Smith Electric Vehicles, to make battery electric taxis that should hit the streets by mid 2009. (Earlier post.)
Geely, like China’s other rising automakers, is developing its own plug-in hybrid and electric cars, including an electric version of its Panda city car that it may seek to sell in Europe. Mr Li said developing electric vehicle technology would be a major strategic focus for the company in future. Geely’s plan to build London taxis in Shanghai is one of a string of investments by Chinese companies seeking to apply low-cost production to iconic overseas assets.
With an electric cab, diesel fume will not fill up the boot from its tailpipe. Given the size of the iconic London cab, I wonder how far it can go.
Posted by: Peace Hugger | 20 October 2008 at 05:33 AM
The Electric car will come.
the question,is ~
Will the west begin making these before China takes over the world auto market?
Posted by: John Taylor | 20 October 2008 at 05:38 AM
With electrified taxi stands and perhaps swappable batteries (like the electric drayage trucks), who knows what the potential of these things could be?
(Battery swaps are feasible for fleet operators who either own large numbers of batteries or rent them from a supplier serving several companies. The battery supplier might be an electric utility or subsidiary.)
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 20 October 2008 at 07:42 AM
It depends on the batteries even the ones in the volt will result in a massively heavy cab if it needs a range thats all that far and those batteries are 3-4x better then most on the market.
Still it cant help but feed the companies we need fed to dev better packs.. And as it will cost people other then me money and ill benifit in a better battery for my portable elctric poodle washer.. im all for it.
Posted by: wintermane | 20 October 2008 at 02:25 PM
@ winter
If the Enlgish had kept the colonies they may have learned to make jimneys and ricksaws but even if ,the weather doesn't permit.
Posted by: arnold | 20 October 2008 at 05:59 PM
The batteries that exist right now in Li-Ion are workable.
Tesla's vehicle (though expensive) goes 200 miles.
Think's goes 100 miles and it's affordable.
These are first generation Li-Ion.
Second and third generation will have the same or even greater energy density than gasoline.
Posted by: db | 22 October 2008 at 11:09 AM
How much range do you really need in a London cab? What's the 90th-percentile fare distance? Probably not even 20 miles. If there are enough electrified taxi stands and battery-swap stations, a range of 50 miles should be enough; if the battery is running low on a trip, you deviate to hit a swap station along the way. Otherwise you just plug in whenever waiting for a fare.
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 23 October 2008 at 06:10 AM
You could probably fit 500 watts of thin film solar panels on the hood and roof and charge all day even in London's grey skys; the thin film won't change the look of the cab either.
In the west we will resist the new economy until it's too late, I fear China will make most of the new energy saving products, not just because of cheap labour but because they jump at the 'opportunity'.
Posted by: Mark M | 23 October 2008 at 01:18 PM
For Engineering
We have taken the TX1 engine and had it emission tested at Millbrook in London they have approved Euro V emission levels using LPG and Petrol.We have a hybrid system using electric and LPG no costly batteries and ultra low emission including low CO2. Our TX2 Euro V engine will be emission tested late January at Millbrook in the UK.We do not lack engineering skills and would like to discuss a joint venture so that there are service outlets and spare parts available .There is a place for electric cars but a sustained education program will be necesssary particulary with London taxi owners
Sincerly
Richard Baxter M.eng
Director
Posted by: Richard Baxter | 06 December 2008 at 07:40 PM