Video released showing how the UK’s first wireless charging taxi rank will look and work
A video showing how a first of its kind electric vehicle charging system which allows electric taxis to charge wirelessly while they wait for passengers has been released.
Wireless Charging of Electric Taxis (WiCET) is a £3.4million project funded by Office for Zero Emission Vehicles through Innovate UK to assess the commercial and technical viability of deploying wireless charging for electric Hackney Carriages.
This is a UK first involving both London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) and Nissan Dynamo electric taxis, placing Nottingham at the forefront of green technology innovation.
Construction of the futurist taxi rank is now progressing fast on Trent Street, just next to Nottingham railway station. The fencing is complete, safety systems are installed, road markings are painted and four out of five wireless charging pads have been installed.
Work will continue over the coming weeks to complete the installation and testing at Trent Street.
The project is led by Cenex, with partners Coventry University, Hangar-19, Nottingham City Council, Shell Research Limited, Sprint Power and Transport for London, with Lumen Freedom supplying the hardware.
Nottingham has big ambitions to become carbon neutral by 2028. Currently the taxi fleet includes 54 electric taxis – the largest number operating outside London.
The video shared shows how the five wireless charging pads installed into the road will allow local taxi drivers to charge as they wait. Drivers will simply drive over the charging equipment, start their charge, and drive away once they have passengers.
A WiCET spokesperson said via social media: “Wireless charging for electric taxis is coming to Nottingham.
“This video from My Nottingham shows how it will all work once the trial starts.”
