First London Black Cab BEV In a Century Approved

Paul Myles

TU-Editor

---

23rd October 2019

London’s first all-electric ‘Hackney Carriage’ black cab in 120 years that has been officially approved by the city authority.

The Dynamo Taxi is the first BEV to be granted permission to operate on the UK capital streets since the Bersey Taxi which was operational for two years until 1899. It had a range of 30 miles between each recharge. Now the new cab, a conversion of the Nissan e-NV200 Evalia MPV, is available to drivers thanks to the permission granted by Transport for London (Tfl).

The vehicle claims a range of up to 187 miles from a single charge on the WLTP City rating and is compatible with 50kW CHAdeMO rapid charging. It will cost taxi drivers £55,495 ($71,792) and is eligible for £7,500 ($9,702) in government plug-in car grant funding bringing the price down to £47,995 ($62,090) undercutting the existing range extender from LEVC.

Brendan O’Toole, founder and CEO of Dynamo, said: “The UK’s new car market is experiencing an electric revolution, with record numbers of fully electric vehicle registrations taking place each year. 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.”

— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in London. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_