Wireless taxi rank charging set to begin on six retrofitted LEVC cabs

Wireless charging has taken a huge step forward as trials on six LEVC taxis are set to begin in the German city of Cologne.

The wireless charging project for taxis, called the Taxi Charging Concept for Public Spaces (TALAKO), will make up part of the SMATA charging feasibility project already launched.

As part of the TALAKO project, six British-made LEVC electric taxis will be retrofitted for wireless charging.

According to Electrive, all six vehicles will be able to charge simultaneously when the charge stations become live.

According to a document produced by engineering service provider INTIS, some of the advantages listed for wireless charging in Cologne include:

• Charging power up to 50 kW

• Semi-dynamic charging – charge while stopped as well as rolling forward

• Suitable for retrofitting to existing EV taxis (e.g. LEVC TX)

• Fully automatic charging and billing

• Maximise up-time - fewer breaks for charging needed, use dead-time to charge

• Reduce costs drive using EV mode, minimise fuel consumption of PHEV’s

It was expected that similar trials would begin in London too. Earlier this year, a grant of nearly £50,000 from OLEV and Innovate UK was awarded to the consortium led by UK Power Networks Services as London eyes zero emissions transport system by 2050. 

That funding was to help an innovative new project to assess the feasibility of using wireless charging to support the use of electric vehicles in commercial fleets on London’s roads. Part of that assessment will include the wireless charging of electric taxis while waiting for passengers in the taxi rank outside St Pancras International railway station.

Image credit: LEVC