LEVC backs Greater Manchester’s £8m fund to speed up shift to cleaner black taxis
- Perry Richardson
- 6 minutes ago
- 2 min read
London EV Company (LEVC) has agreed a memorandum of understanding with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to support the region’s £8 million Hackney Support Fund, a scheme designed to help taxi drivers replace older diesel cabs with zero-exhaust-emission capable vehicles.
The Government funded initiative forms part of Greater Manchester’s investment led Clean Air Plan, which avoids a charging zone and instead focuses on incentivising fleet renewal. Grants will be available to licensed hackney carriage drivers to support the cost of moving to cleaner models, with the authority aiming to accelerate uptake across the region’s taxi trade.
Under the agreement, LEVC will expand the support it already offers to successful applicants, contributing new and used vehicle incentives worth up to £2 million. The manufacturer said this will include extended warranties and a scrappage allowance against the purchase of a used TX, its flagship range-extender electric taxi.
The TX, built at LEVC’s Ansty plant near Coventry, has been on the market since 2018 and is positioned as a transitional solution for urban operators. It offers a pure electric range of up to 78 miles and a quoted total range of 333 miles. According to the company, the model has helped reduce emissions in London’s taxi fleet, preventing more than 360 million kilograms of CO2 from entering the atmosphere and contributing to a 59 per cent cut in NOx output.
Manufacturer commits up to £2m in vehicle support as the city region pushes ahead with its non-charging Clean Air Plan
Greater Manchester officials have positioned the Hackney Support Fund as a key element of its transition strategy. By offering financial assistance rather than imposing charges on older vehicles, the authority hopes to help drivers manage capital costs while delivering measurable air quality improvements.
LEVC’s involvement signals continued manufacturer engagement in regional clean air programmes and reflects broader efforts to modernise the UK’s taxi fleet. The company, which has produced more than twelve thousand TX vehicles globally and traces its history back to 1908, remains the only supplier of a purpose built, fully accessible, zero-exhaust-emission capable taxi.
Chris Allen, Managing Director, LEVC, said: “I am pleased to confirm that LEVC is officially backing the Greater Manchester authorities in support of their newly launched Hackney Support Fund. LEVC is contributing up to £2m to help local taxi drivers make the switch to zero-exhaust-emission capable TXs.
“TX has already transformed the taxi market in London and helped the capital achieve legal air quality targets for the first time. I'm confident that further adoption of TX in Greater Manchester will achieve similar positive results for the region and improve the quality of taxi services for both drivers and passengers alike."
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Our taxi trade is a vital part of Greater Manchester’s transport network and supports the local economy.
“That’s why we’re working hard to secure funding and practical support to help drivers upgrade to cleaner, greener vehicles - improving air quality for everyone, while protecting livelihoods. By backing our taxi trade, we’re building a fairer, healthier city-region for all.”
