Chinese Electric Taxis TAKEOVER London!

The electric London taxi is an example of how automotive tradition not only survives but also becomes more exciting once it transforms. Proof that the new doesn’t always kill the culture of the past.
00:00 London City Black Cab
00:08 Electric Taxi Driving Experience London
00:40 London Historical Places
01:18 Peter Powell, London Taxi Driver
02:03 Swab Diesel Car for Electric
02:16 LEVC Production Site, Ansty
02:29 Austin FX4 Taxi
03:20 Lloyd Bonson, LEVC
03:50 LEVC TX Electric Taxi
04:50 Wheelchair Accessible Taxi London
05:58 Savoy Hotel London
07:57 Glued Aluminium Chassis
08:33 London Tour Guide
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► Check our website: dw.com/REV
Report: Gerhard Sonnleitner
Camera: Peter Thorn, Mike Johnson
Editing: Manu Reuss
REV - The Global Auto and Mobility Show from Deutsche Welle
#dwrev #londontaxis #blackcab

[@DWREV]

Tell us your Black Cab experiences below!

[@ChinaSongsCollection]

Electric taxis will always be more comfortable than ICE taxis regardless of whether it's the Black Cab or not. Also just like to mention that the 1st city in the world to have ALL public transport as electric is Shenzhen in China. ALL taxis, buses, and trains in Shenzhen are electric. And have been this way for many years.

[@lawrenceli3659]

My friend and I took a black Taxi (in 2008)about 10 mins and it cost £50-60. That was expensive 😢

[@Moshimulations]

Why does it sound like a mice doing a long squeak? lol

[@Western_Decline]

London’s Chinese e-Cabs, let’s get real.

[@Dodilafir]

I love the traditional black cabs, but happy to ride the new eV, hopefully this summer.

[@jinsoonchin5205]

American will say that this will pose national security problems and British will be forced to ban this Taxi

[@eddieyeoh4098]

You mean there are ‘ spies ‘ in automobile parts??? 😂😂😂

[@HTeo-og1lg]

@@eddieyeoh4098 . Let us remember the Tik-Tok fiasco of 2023, compliments of US Congresspersons. "Can Tik-Tok 'spy' on my (Internet) network?" (paraphrased)

[@achangyw]

LOL worried about not able to obtain spare parts tantamount to national security problem. Hahaha

[@waichong9389]

Come on we all know what ever the American's says . Is all true 😅😂. One thing I would like the UK citizens to have is the 5 G internet from China. Is very cheap and fast here in Hong Kong. All you want data for a month is under four pounds. I get it for my family and friends when they come over .

[@rabbitazteca23]

lol tale as old as time

[@hermesliteratus882]

As far as I know, Geely Group, the Chinese automotive company responsible for producing this Taxi, also owns Volvo and Lotus.

[@marsmellow1589]

I`ve been in the factory and they use the Lotus production method for the alluminium monocoques. Quite interesting.

[@etow8034]

...and Lynk&Co and PoleStar Volvo's EV division !

[@user-cm7ub9gq8m]

And then possibly Aston Martin🤔

[@diuco17]

And is the biggest share holder of mercedes benz.

[@hermesliteratus882]

@@diuco17 That's what I say.

[@ellashy6539]

I applaud this episode no politics just keeping it grounded about what matters to local needs in fact Geely has really defined value for money for their vehicles

[@jaadotech]

There’s a smoke and mirrors style avoidance of reassuring anyone that the recharging station capability for the London cabs capacity is at all close to being viable, meaning those little Internal Combustion Engines range extenders would likely be used near 100% of the time during peak hours. I would love someone with facts and data to prove my comment untrue but this is the known problem.

[@HenRy-bm9ww]

Which is surprising given 99% of Western coverage of anything remotely related to China and Chinese people is always negative. Props to them.

[@HasxVoiks]

You think there is no politics? You need to do a bit more research behind the video. Firslty, these taxis are extremely expensive and prices have been set extraordinarily high to prevent taxi drivers from buying them. Secondly the reason these taxis are forced onto workers is because of their "zero emissions", however video fails to mention that almost all taxi drivers use the back up 1.5l petrol engine, so no this video is highly controversial and very political. It's pushing some false agenda

[@Egal0190]

I was surprised, too, as DW is one of those NATO indoctrinated medias that are usually echoing nothing but lies about China, Russia, Iran, Syria and all those other countries that refuse to sell out their resources and their people to US/UK/EU corporations.

[@mariomastadon7650]

I live in Shanghai and we've had electric cabs for almost a decade already. I loved them from the start with their smooth, quiets rides...

[@mildlydispleased3221]

I'm so sorry.

[@blackknight4996]

@@mildlydispleased3221 Sorry for not having it?.... that's your fate... I'm very pleased you don't have it.

[@mildlydispleased3221]

@@blackknight4996 Having to live in Shanghai.

[@blackknight4996]

@@mildlydispleased3221 You can't afford it.

[@shrikhiran3956]

I heard KZbin is banned in china, how do you comment here?

[@rishisunak8244]

Proud to have worked for the company for a while and participated in the TX5 development process, really glad to hear ppl loving the end product

[@alsetalokin88]

you can never go wrong with geely, byd or nio in ev

[@andymcrae4661]

Stolen technology

[@patrickkaiserliew3691]

London cab really is an icon when it comes to taxis of the world.

[@keithkhan174]

A British icon made in China...Monty Pyton-esqe...what next? The coronation crown & coach made in China? The British election ballots counted in China by the CCCP?

[@Western_Decline]

Yea, LEVC is a subsidiary of Geely, Chinese car manufacturer. The West is in decline.

[@xrismanessa3993]

It’s like World Series in America which is only played in America but call it World Series

[@user-fo9oz7qw1i]

so DW title is called Chinese Electrical Taxi takeover LONON, but I never hear it is American Electrical Taxi takeover.. those western journalists need to be made more critical of their western indoctrination, not helpful to its citizens

[@mkviis]

Germany, Mercedes taxis, E class 2000-2023 same goes for S class, it's nostalgic

[@vrealzhou]

EV is very suitable as taxis, low maintenance cost and reliable. I’ve heard an interview of a Chinese taxi driver said he drove BYD e5 for 5 years with 1 million km distance. He only spend 400 CNY in total on service and repairs in the 5 years. Almost no service required. The breaks were barely used because of the energy recovery feature. Also BYD offers one battery replacement for free for the taxis on certain years. By law the car above 1 million kms will be forced recycled. So he changed another BYD EV again.

[@mickgatz214]

But why "force recycle" it?......

[@MrSuperunix]

@@mickgatz214 应该是，强制报废

[@user-xr1gb9bo1i]

Such BS! BYD ev cars in China, When you buy it new less than a year, the secondary market the price drops to only half of the original price, also there are many electrical problems!

[@ellis777777]

brake, not break

[@vrealzhou]

@@ellis777777 thanks

[@TinLeadHammer]

Taxi, being a city transport with designated parking - and hence, charging - locations is the best use case for EV.

[@stefanosong9314]

Most of Taxi you see in China are EVs. It all started many years ago in Shenzhen from BYD

[@sobu_hasy]

London Taxis are basically base on Geely's platforms since Geely bought LTI back in 2007. The first London Taxi to include some Chinese R&D was the TX4 introduced in 2007 (the year when Geely bought most of LTI)

[@andymcrae4661]

No such thing as Chinese R & D

[@asdfghjkl92213]

@@andymcrae4661 your looking at one right now, most of this cap is designed by geely

[@jay-uo2bi]

@@andymcrae4661 not sure how you can be so clueless

[@josephguo3429]

@@andymcrae4661 ya, Tiangong Space Station was designed by Oxford U?!

[@Neojhun]

@@andymcrae4661 Oh there very much is Chinese R&D in certain fields. Just less in automotive. Chinese R&D get wierd and wacky. Stuff other people wouldn't bother doing.

[@furtado.g_]

The older black cabs look like the Chrysler PT cruiser lol. The electric one looks so much better. What an update!

[@marvinfok65]

Like it or not, China is going to dominate the global EVs industry. Even Tesla is working with CATL the biggest EVs batteries producer. MG which is another Chinese bought over British brand is producing EVs which is well accepted in the global market and is competing with another Chinese EV brand BYD.

[@etow8034]

China produces 80% of batteries for EVs, the US less than 2% ! ...LoL

[@waichong9389]

Watch out for the NIO . Everyone that has test drive a Tesla and NIO . 75 percent likes NIO more because is much better.

[@Featherface01]

Hopefully they won't start spontaneously combusting like a lot the BYDs in China. 🔥

[@user-vm9fc8ub4c]

​@@waichong9389 it may be because Tesla steals the consuction to the driver, you are not allowed to comit mistakes, the computer correctd you, but what we need is only electric vehicles, not selfdriving cars, we want the freedom to drive

[@user-ih9pg5dp7m]

@@user-vm9fc8ub4c thats just u. I want free time to do other things.

[@therealchayd]

They're pretty quick, too, I inadvertently drag-raced one on its way out of London (whilst keeping within the speed limit, of course!)

[@DWREV]

We need more details!

[@BrandonPMotsilanyane]

This feels Bentley had a cullinan baby somehow 😂😂😂

[@DWREV]

We see what you mean!

[@Western_Decline]

@@DWREV Do you just ignore all the comments that celebrate China’s success in EVs and in building this vehicle?

[@stuartchong8807]

Fantastic 👍🇬🇧 This is what you can achieve when we all work together , a fusion of the old and new coupled with the East & the West , outstanding 👍

[@adamanthony7465]

Why did British capital not invest?

[@dijikstra8]

@@adamanthony7465 Because private capital does not think long term. They want profits tomorrow and are hesitant to invest in projects that will only materialize years down the road. China started investing in battery and EV infrastructure almost two decades ago, that's why they are so far ahead now.

[@theolich4384]

3:26 Mr. Bronson needs to see the BYD D1 and FAW Bestune NAT. The LEVC TX is a nice dedicated taxi but there’re others out there…again, from the Chinese.

[@joenewcfd]

Took it a few times in London and simply love it.

[@marvinfok65]

The electric London taxi is so cool looking!

[@dremc1000]

The commentator barley acknowledged all this was possible because of China EV industry. Just saying the designers (replicate old model) got lot more credit than the manufacturer (new tech). I am glad they stay with the classic look, its part of london's culture. Like yellow cabs in NY😂😂😂

[@etow8034]

DW is anti-China !

[@petervan7372]

dw is just like any other wmm fake news

[@DanielBos]

Yeah, a bit disingenuous... LEVC didn't "cooperate with Geely", they're a wholy owned subsidiary of Geely.

[@petervan7372]

@@DanielBos dw is just a fake news as any other wmm

[@rabbitazteca23]

noticed that, too, lol.

[@havencat9337]

great to finally see a positive DW documentary!

[@jbcola74]

Not positive for the EU car industry, and chinese car reliance not positive for taiwan.

[@justenoughtobedangerous8596]

Having lived in London and New York, the room and ease of access in the London Cabs is so much better than the NY cabs. Not to mention the quality of the seats and benefits of sitting opposite someone you want to talk to instead of beside them. Not sure if they would every make it to other countries but they would be a benefit.

[@oronjoffe]

They are sold in many other countries, but they’re relatively expensive, so they’re unlikely to overtake other makers.

[@anthonydowling3356]

There are a few in Bangkok .Not as a regular taxi but as a Hotel VIP service .

[@web3out]

Chinese technology brings affordable pricing to humanity.

[@am_ma]

You mean chinese prices make technology affordable for everyone.

[@necrospencer658]

Kudos to them for the excellent design , it blends well within London .

[@leserickson7057]

Loved your presentation, and how you were able to keep that Iconic look.Go Great Britain!!!!!

[@fettywap1738]

The quality, tech & ergonomics are great in these new cabs compared to the old ones. I’m always pleased if I catch one in central 👍

[@Jonathan_Doe_]

I hate riding in all the previous diesel black cabs. These are really nice to ride in. They actually remind me of being in the back of a newer rolls Royce with how silent they are and how smoothly they ride, the panoramic roof is a nice feature too.

[@jamesdanton9033]

What are you, on the sales team? What do they run on? Coal, that's what.

[@Jonathan_Doe_]

@@jamesdanton9033 Look up the proportion of U.K. electricity that’s actually produced by coal. Go on. Search for “national grid live”. Coal accounted for just 0.6% of electricity produced in the UK last week. Coal isn’t a significant part of the UK’s grid supply any more. It’s use increased slightly at the start of the Ukraine conflict, but we’ve found other sources of gas now, so it’s back out the window. I’d rather some relatively clean, massively filtered smoke from a natural gas a power station in the middle of nowhere, with a forest around it, than massively carcinogenic diesel smoke getting fired straight at the pavement, in the middle of a city.

[@kenbee1957]

​@jamesdanton9033 From your comments all over this video, I take it you really hate coal?

[@alasehirphiladelphia6996]

Like the unionjack print behind the grill. Great collaboration; always like the black cab.

[@waynesalkeld8419]

I was fortunate to travel in the new electric London cab in Paris recently.I realised it had an electric motor and i must say it was a very pleasant and comfortable experience.Much better than the old cabs.Job well done.

[@lyndonthejohnson]

So glad to see this form being propelled into the future. My favorite feature is that with a built-in, fold out ramp, for a wheelchair the classic taxi is roll-on/roll-off. My last time in London, in 2017, it was pounding down rain and that ramp was a real lifesaver.

[@rajeshmohan4045]

Wow, I've seen this taxi before, the drivers are so kind to ladies who are in need for a ride, bless their kind hearts ❤❤

[@johnmunro4952]

Saw a water company van made by these guys yesterday. Same front end. Really good idea.

[@Beun007]

Lovely! I have to do this!

[@balkanleopard9728]

Great to see new world technology, from China this time, being adopted in London.

[@ChevyBM]

There is nothing great about buying stuff from communist china. They will be the next country that does the same crazy stuff as russia have done.

[@FatherOf1450]

he is indian, no china company for him, he is gonna bring Tata Motors in~ @@bbasleigh6149

[@leahcasey2678]

The UK chose to exclude China from any involvement in the design or construction of HS1 and HS2 ... makes absolutely no sense!

[@makotohanazawa6560]

if only every country could have chinese/ japanese standard hsr

[@quanfung5958]

Take a look at house of Lords all those out of date people ....they need a groovy train as well to keep them happy ?😂

[@peter-world-traves]

It makes sense for US..,

[@mchparity]

Chinese high speed rail way benefits from modular scalable designs from the tracks on the ground to the station canopies above. It's not much use if one's only building a single line. Better spend that budget on consultants.

[@5RoadsSalem4]

It certainly makes sense from economics and security point of view. We don’t want Chinese to build our infrastructure.

[@antwango]

The TX looks amazing btw, reminds me of the Mini designed under BMW... retains all the signature styling and details yet looks modern and retro at the same time

[@RandallSlick]

@antwango the BMW Mini was, is and will for ever remain a disgrace to the name of the original. A theme-park car for theme-park people. We British love our cultural icons so much we sell them to the lowest bidder.

[@jaik9321]

great to see - all big cities to follow this

[@robinzhang7778]

I really love this iconic taxi, hope Shanghai can have the same model❤

[@TinLeadHammer]

4:30 - "Inside, we kept the proportions of the interior" - the most distinctive feature of the London Cab, its tall roof, flat floor and vis-a-vis cabin shown with a single quick dark shot. Instead, there are many shots of the taxi driving around. Pitiful job, DW.

[@akhtarnadeem621]

Awesome !

[@chandimaveedagamaarachchi8244]

Employing alternate energy for transportation is a great initiative.

[@minos99]

Its time we stop painting China as the boogey man. We can achieve more together. Amazing stuff!😊

[@johnsmith-cw3wo]

we must crush communism. 💪💪

[@rickyamin1876]

​@@johnsmith-cw3wo dude this video is talking about taxis and DON'T try to pretend to be smart to try to create unnecessary stuff 🙄..... Btw don't worry I'm not from China just telling the truth so PLEASE get your brain check by the specialist and get a hike 😂

[@boli1435]

​@@johnsmith-cw3wo we must eradicate ignorance

[@piplupempoleon4225]

​@@johnsmith-cw3wostill living in 1990s? China is capitalist one party state

[@dlee8787]

@@johnsmith-cw3wo 😁说实话我为沉浸在意识形态迷思中的人类感到无奈。这只不过是不同族类的统治阶级用来训练自己势力范围的人民的招数。

[@volvof12able]

They are absolutely beautiful almost like a limousine 🇬🇧

[@Coastmac2001]

Yep I saw E120 KHX in Sydney about 15 yrs ago. So it was someone's privately imported car in Australia

[@johnfh]

Very interesting and instructive video - thank you. My experience with London taxis goes back to 1965-67, when I lived there. Many of the taxis were Austin FX3s, with rattly diesel engines. I saw a few of Beardmores too.

[@soowo5942]

Great innovation!

[@johngitau7438]

Great. What an experience. Made my London holiday awesome.

[@zakris]

I love the union jack in the grill

[@jennyohara4011]

I Love everything related to China..absolutely Brilliant!

[@MARCRON_MARCRON]

everything related to China , got high views

[@eoinoconnell185]

Especially their credit score !

[@skywire5595]

EV cars for goodness of mother earth ... very excited

[@boyantrifonov]

A Taxi driver was saying to his passenger: "I like driving a cab because I am my own boss and no one tells me what to do" The passenger: "Turn left here, please"

[@metricstormtrooper]

Aren't you a clever cloggs.

[@DWREV]

😆

[@boyantrifonov]

@@DWREV No offense to cab drivers. I think they are doing an important service to society and are not paid enough to sit in traffic all day and deal with bad entitled customers. It is something to think about. Even if you are self employed or an entrepreneur your “boss” is the customer. So in reality working people usually have a boss.

[@superduper9357]

Jimmy Carr joke!

[@boyantrifonov]

@@superduper9357 No it is NOT. You can find this joke in a gazillion places.

[@peterwilliams7335]

Chinese cities have implemented electric taxi long time ago. I am glad that the UK is also doing so. But the U.S. who pushed China is too far lagging behind.

[@Ruihengmi]

China made electric buses are sold quite well in usa.

[@gazgaz2767]

I’ve seen 1 EV taxi in Jilin northern China they do not perform in cold weather it cuts the range by 40%

[@redditboy9143]

Muttricuck bros

[@benedictdesilva6677]

@@gazgaz2767 A feeble counter-argument. The technological issue in the cold is to keep the batteries warm. The operational challenge is cooling the batteries. During regular charging (more so during quick charging) and often during use, battery packs have to be cooled by technological means (coolant fluids and ventilators) - ever heard ventilators blowing when EVs are being charged, and during high performance use? On cold days the need for cooling of battery pack while charging is less. After charging, the heat conserved in the insulated battery pack ensures no loss in performance - continued use of the well-insulated battery keeps it warm and performing even at cold ambient temperatures. The postulated range loss of 40 % can only be the projected loss after "cold start" of EVs that have been standing out (overnight) in extreme cold without being charged - and poorly-engineered - i.e. *cold* - battery packs. Thermo-regulation of battery-packs is a pretty trivial technological challenge.

[@user-uk4jl4ot6y]

USA is still phasing out the stagecoaches.

[@MrJerobona]

Absolutely Fabulous! London cabs are iconic! A little like the old American NYC Checkers! But now, unfortunately, Uber is taking over...

[@hongkongpong5588]

.. Later will be ban by Pm..

[@ijaen]

These taxis are comfortable, silent and very popular now. Some even have panoramic sunroof! All drivers are happy with them.

[@maryphelps7381]

Trying to learn the basics of Installing & supplying to Charging Stations. Even Golf Carts have issues. Great concept if It's supported & safe.

[@fazliwahab6627]

fantastic, fitting I love it

[@metricstormtrooper]

It's not the worlds only "purposefully designed taxi",Toyota manufactures the bespoke JPN hybrid lpg/ev taxi in Japan .

[@ChinaSongsCollection]

Not sure what he means by "purposefully designed taxis" because I would have thought taxis in most countries would be specifically designed as taxis.

[@HTeo-og1lg]

@@ChinaSongsCollection . Typical hype (aka "over-spin") of so-called Brit's artifices.

[@evolaner]

Well Toyota taxi now share same architecture of its Sienta MPV, although not look alike from outside. So technically not bespoke like London taxi

[@metricstormtrooper]

@@evolaner it's a whole different body and interior, people classed the FX as a bespoke Taxi and that was built on an Austin Chassis.

[@51tomtomtom]

Looking at the mentioned Toyota you understand at what car they looked................

[@christopherfairs9095]

I had a ride in an all-electric taxi in 1976 in Birmingham UK. It had a range of 100 miles and a top speed of 55mph. It was made by Lucas and designed by Ogle. It was far ahead of its time. It was yellow.

[@solapowsj25]

Lucas was the most common name in automobile electricals in those days. Trusted.

[@DWREV]

That's amazing! Would you happen to have any photographs of it? If you do, send them to us on [e-mail].

[@cedriclynch]

​@@DWREV Lucas also produced hundreds of electric vans in the late 1970s and early 80s, some of which were converted to minibuses. Most were conversions of the Bedford CF or the British Leyland Sherpa. They used lead-acid batteries and a separately-excited DC motor with electronic controller. It was possible to get 100 miles but you had to drive very gently and slowly. 40 or 50 miles was more like what you would get if you drove at normal traffic speed. With lead-acid batteries the range you get is much more affected by how you drive than with lithium-ion batteries. In 1980 the only real alternative to the lead-acid battery was the nickel-cadmium battery; this was more durable and could give a somewhat longer range but was much more expensive.

[@misteriocraftgames]

This is amazing

[@cosimomancio9301]

Tha cab driver 😍 I ❤️ him!!! Proper Londoner👍🏻😍❤️

[@harrygroundwater2590]

I was in London in December and saw a lot of electric taxis. Although I was having a hard time telling what ones were electric as they look the same as the diesel ones. Can’t wait until they are all electric.

[@danielstoicamusic]

Kudos to Savoy Hotel for making people drive on the right side of the road.

[@craigfrancis9578]

Nice new electric cab

[@andydondy6444]

👍👍👍👍 Excellent choice

[@eyeofthetiger6002]

This is probably the most advanced cabs in the world, British + Chinese technology = world beating.

[@johnsmith-cw3wo]

yes... British aesthetic and Chinese quality...

[@eyeofthetiger6002]

@@johnsmith-cw3wo sat in one recently, felt like I'm in a Rolls Royce compared to the old London taxis!🤣

[@piplupempoleon4225]

British technology,? UK government is the second most hostile country to china after US

[@sferris33]

American/European, Japanese, and Korean auto manufacturers are lucky that Chinese ev brands have not entered the US market yet. I am unsure how well they would be able to compete against Chinese ev brands.

[@DWREV]

Nio's aiming to enter the US market in 2025. It's going to be really interesting to see what happens then.

[@WalterGao]

@@DWREV If only Nio can survive in 2024, nice car, bad strategy.

[@michelwan9073]

@@DWREV with 25% Tax i am not so optimistic

[@jamesc3622]

This is unfair to China, as Chinese people have bought a lot of American cars

[@gobiwaq]

I love looking at these black cabs as I drive through london in the back of an Uber.

[@Aztrina]

Taxis are ones of the best vehicles to go electric. No one needs a taxi to sound or look cool. Range is not a problem since they mostly going around in the city and a charger is never too far away. And no matter where the electricity is coming from, at least they lower the emission in the city. AND they kept the iconic look, brilliant idea.

[@serafinacosta7118]

No other carmaker in the world would put money into a low volume nameplate operation like this. Geely is buying goodwil, and sticking the foot into Europe. American, Japanese , and European carmakers take notice. The Chinese want your markets.

[@JohnZoetebier]

China brought 20 new EV models on the market in April 2023 alone. China is now the biggest exporter of cars in the world. End of 2023 or 2024 China will overtake the car production of Japan, Germany and Sout Korea combined. These statistics are staggering. Only a miracle can save the car industry in Japan and Germany. They may be wiped out before 2030.

[@Western_Decline]

Only Chinese cars have the technological sophistication to make these EVs. Japan is out to lunch on EVs.

[@yudogcome5901]

The car is sold as a family car in China, but sales are modest

[@serafinacosta7118]

@@yudogcome5901 interesting. At least they found a captive market. And there is some sunk cost in its development and tooling.

[@xinzhanhardware]

I am surprised the UK allows this without American permission

[@ex0duzz]

USA will tell them in 5 years that they are security threat and thus need to throw them all away and buy American brand cars as replacement and they will agree.

[@tomjones7184]

Where you from?

[@alex.velasco]

Nonsense.

[@ffbeexaid4509]

Same 😂

[@seowkhoontan9534]

Uk allowed Geely to take over LEVC in 2013 as there was no other potential white knight. Also geopolitics were not so complicated then.

[@bzdtemp]

I must say I think this is only really iconic to Londoners. For me a taxi is a Merc E-class, as that is what was the most used car for taxi service when I grew up.

[@shebanadam7569]

Now Peter Powell is the ambassador that company needs .😂😂👍👍

[@terracecar1]

the cab is beautiful.

[@4403323]

The iconic double decker buses will be next if not already.

[@DWREV]

BYD has already built all-electric double deckers for London - the Enviro 400EV.

[@Western_Decline]

@@DWREV is that Chinese as well?!

[@zhoma982]

​@@Western_DeclineYes

[@caty863]

The most recognisable car in the *world* that I have never seen!

[@gohsimon4347]

That's great 👍

[@salamov963]

Fun fact only apart from England, Azerbaijan uses those cabs too

[@DWREV]

Thanks for the info, Japan has their own version of the black cab.

[@medialex78]

@msmissy6888 So these are used in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, too?

[@Kuricang31]

​@@medialex78Yes they are. But only a handful of them in Northern Ireland as older TX4 were still in used

[@achangyw]

Oh really!

[@k.k.c8670]

They use London cabs in Azerbaijan!? Didn't know that. Imported from the UK?

[@markreed9853]

Great to see a veteran taxi driver embrace the electric vehicle so much - I actually met a driver of a Taxi the same as this at an EV charger near Hatfield and he was a bit disappointed with the EV range of around 60 miles but was happy in how it drove as well.

[@burlhorse61]

thought they normally do 200miles?that's short

[@markreed9853]

@@burlhorse61 while the below information are the official figures you never really get that in the "real world " -The LEVC TX5 EREV range extended electric vehicle (EREV) is equipped with a battery capacity of 31 kWh, delivering a range of 128 km / 80 miles (NEDC). The total extended range of the TX5 EREV is 606 km or 379 miles. 

[@burlhorse61]

@@markreed9853 whats does extended range mean?

[@markreed9853]

@@burlhorse61 It means the full range with battery and petrol engine with a full tank of fuel. This vehicle has a battery AND a 1.5Ltr petrol engine so it can switch to electric-only in central London but switch to petrol when outside or when the battery is running low. It's like a hybrid BUT electric motors are powering the wheels all the time. The only car like this is the BMWi3 REX.

[@burlhorse61]

@@markreed9853 so it's a hybrid vehicle ,more or less.thought it's totally electric

[@a_viewerv2069]

Great car, great electric cab

[@WildernessGuyBC]

They should do a purpose built PHEV cab like this for NYC but make it look like the classic Checker Marathon cabs.

[@DWREV]

We love this idea, what a great way to move into the future and go back in time, all at once :-)

[@devabratadixit303]

England, Germany, France, Italy have huge motor companies but China rules the streets.

[@key2010]

that is DOPE!

[@Subh8081]

The new Nissan X-trail runs a petrol motor to drive an electric drivetrain. This one is of similar concept, but with 130km of pure electric range. This is superb for cities.

[@soniaaggarwal7066]

always Chinese cars are technologically advanced with latest automation , superior quality ( new cars) and very affordable

[@dannicrane5577]

Copy & Paste

[@rickyamin1876]

​@@dannicrane5577 no matter it's copy and paste or etc at least they did great on the other hand some big companies charge and sell much much higher compared to them

[@weiliao7642]

@@dannicrane5577 from what? Europeans don’t even have one major EV battery company, majority of the battery production and tech patents are from China. Wake up, it’s 2023

[@stevenchow408]

Who ever makes it as long as it improves the standard of living of the country. For poor or rich people

[@ALWH1314]

BYD E6 is also a Taxi/Uber only model.

[@asdfghjkl92213]

I’ve rode on one of these in hangzhou, china, where geeky is, apparently it’s not a London only taxi anymore

[@guens01]

Thank you, China.

[@Mike8981]

Love to see it with an Austin badge.

[@kennethausten]

I certainly miss that diesel knock noise. Should be simulated. Glad it's happened. Probably expensive, they were anyway being a bespoke cab. Possible the service cost savings will reclaw some of it over time. Live no where near London nowadays as it's overcrowded, not likely to see one any day soon. Manufacturer obviously found the best EV hardware was from China cost wise while they are still in charge of the coach work keeping it's iconic look.

[@saurannuraliyev1695]

I would never know that BYD stands for Build Your Dreams if Doug Demuro weren't in exist

[@MirMahmud2003]

It's very lovely to see that they've retained the "Britishness" of those taxies yet they've moved on with modernization.

[@ichirotaniguchi]

it's not the only vehicle in the world built specifically to be a taxi.. there's also the Toyota JPN Taxi, overall they are similar to the London EV Taxi and designed for the exact same purpose

[@EdwinaTS]

I've got to take a ride in this taxis! Arrange a Taxi ride party !

[@dlee8787]

据说英国的出租车很贵，请教下？

[@EdwinaTS]

@@dlee8787 英國出租車和Taxis 是贵呀所以平時我不會用的。自己有車。

[@tvdinner325]

Why can't the Brits make anything anymore?

[@foxbat473]

Unions

[@CM73878]

The electric cab is designed and made in the UK by LEVC which is owned by Geely, a Chinese company, the same company which owns Volvo. It would be uneconomic for any company to design and produce a cab which sells in relatively low numbers without support from a larger partner, British or foreign.

[@tvdinner325]

@@CM73878 So, another iconic British symbol, owned by a foreign country. Got it. Maybe they should sell Buckingham Palace too?

[@LaowaiDaveJCP]

​@@tvdinner325 remember exploiting foreign lands was the key to the British lux to begin with so yeah karma hitting back

[@tvdinner325]

@@LaowaiDaveJCP Germans? Read a history book.

[@samsonermias6303]

I'm learning to become a Black cap driver but I'm really worry about the price of those Electric taxis, its extremly expensive

[@philpots48]

Love them, the retro look, wish they were in NYC. I rode them in 1975, skipped the underground because of a bad back.

[@jbcola74]

Happy to see those soon in some new fake-taxi clips 😂😂🎉

[@peterfong2241]

Blessed love to all from Jamaica west Indies, can someone tell me who own the black taxi in London ?? Is it one company, or it the government !!

[@Curling_Rack]

Chinese

[@peterfong2241]

@@Curling_Rack Are you playing around with me bro ?? Chinese own all the black taxi in London England ?? Is that wat you are really saying ??.

[@DWREV]

The drivers own or lease their cabs and are licensed with TFL (transport for London) These electric versions, The LEVC TX are made by a British commercial vehicle maker London EV Company (LEVC).

[@DWREV]

@Jeff Black Cabs are generally owned by the drivers, with them functioning as their ‘shop’ for business.

[@peterfong2241]

@@DWREV Ok, my heart rate is back to normal now, this explanation sounds better, they were made an English company, ok great not some Chinese crazy knock offs, own, or least by the drivers, ok that's not bad, honestly, I don't like hearing the word, or name Chinese period, those people come to mash up the world with inferior things, an policies, watching from Jamaica west Indies !!

[@prasongchutikul8086]

EV taxi is for the world!