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NEW BLACK CAB EXCITEMENT: Fleet owner expert welcomes next LEVC taxi but says questions remain over range and powertrain
The expected arrival of a new LEVC taxi has been welcomed from the fleet owner perspective, with the development described as one of the biggest moments for the London cab trade since the TXE was first announced.
Writing in the ‘Cab You Drive’ column in TAXI Newspaper, the fleet owner expert said: “This is not only the biggest news in cabland since the TXE was announced a decade ago, way back in 2016 no less, but it’s particularly welcome at this specific moment in time because it guarantees London an iconic vehicle well into the next 10 years.”
According to the column, the announcement was not unexpected among a small group of people close to the project. The fleet owner said there had been “a select few in-the-know people who had been let in on the project from the very start”, including dealers, some drivers and regular customers of the LTDA.
The focus is now moving to the technical details of the replacement taxi.
The columnist said there were still “plenty of unanswered questions” and asked: “For example will it be pure EV and, if so, what’s the range?”
From a fleet and working-driver perspective, the issue of whether LEVC retains some form of range extender could be particularly important. The columnist said: “For what it’s worth, I think drivers would absolutely want to keep the range extender to soothe any concerns over range anxiety.”
That view reflects the demands placed on working taxis, particularly vehicles operating long shifts or high annual mileages. For fleet owners, usable electric range, charging time and the ability to keep vehicles earning throughout the day will be central considerations once LEVC releases further details soon.
The columnist acknowledged, however, that the existing TX arrangement may not necessarily continue. The article noted that the TXE was the only range-extender vehicle being built and suggested LEVC could instead move towards an electric drivetrain using battery and motor technology available within the wider Geely group.
For fleet operators who invest millions into securing black cabs for drivers to rent, the finer details of the cab will matter. The columnist called for practical improvements including “an improved hire light, an intercom where the speaker is above the driver’s head”, together with modern technology such as wireless phone charging and Apple CarPlay.
The fleet owner also said further information is expected as development progresses, with dealers and fleets potentially being invited to see the vehicle before launch. That would give fleet owners an early opportunity to assess whether the new model addresses some of the issues raised by drivers using the current TX.
For now, the reaction from the fleet side is broadly positive, but the final judgement will come later. Purchase price, finance costs, range, charging performance, vehicle reliability and the final passenger and driver specification are likely to determine how quickly larger operators consider replacing existing vehicles when the new taxi becomes available.
