Back to the future: London unveils first fully electric taxi since… 1897
A completely electric taxi hit London’s roads today, although the first fully electric vehicle came to the capital more than 100 years ago.
The zero emissions Dynamo Taxi, made from a converted Nissan e-NV200 Evalia MPV, was unveiled as a part of the International Clean Air Conference at City Hall.
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It is the city’s first 100 per cent electric black cab since the Bersey Taxi was operational from 1897 to 1899.
The Victorian-era car had a range of 30 miles between charges.
The Dynamo Taxi, on the other hand, has a range of 187 miles on a single charge.
Drivers are now able to purchase the car from UK-based Dynamo for £55,495, while a £7,500 government subsidy is also available for buyers.
Dynamo chief executive Brendan O’Toole said: “Electric vehicle technology is now a viable alternative to petrol and diesel vehicles, and it’s imperative the UK’s taxi market changes with the times.”
The Dynamo’s launch is a part of the push to make London’s taxis carbon footprint non-existent.
Only two types of cars can now be granted a taxi licence by Transport for London (TfL) – the Dynamo and a hybrid made by the London Electric Vehicle Company (LVEC).
Almost 2,500 of the LVEC taxis have been licensed since their introduction in January 2018.
City Hall has also laid out £42m to buy older, higher emissions taxis off drivers.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan was at this morning’s event to help launch the Dynamo.
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“Working with cabbies to go electric is a key part of our plans to improve London’s air quality,” he said.
“The Dynamo Taxi will accelerate the retirement of polluting diesel taxis from city streets across the UK, improving air quality, helping to tackle the climate emergency and to create a green economy.”