When moving to the new electric taxi, the biggest change for most drivers will be the ability to re-fuel the vehicle at home with home charging. For those able to charge at home there is the option to install dedicated charging equipment – designed to reduce the amount of time required to top up your taxi’s battery.
There are grants available to help owners install these charge points at home, and to provide a hassle-free means of accessing this funding, we have partnered with the UK’s largest provider of homecharge units, Chargemaster.
UK based Chargemaster have supplied over 30,000 homecharge units to UK electric vehicle drivers to date, and is the official charging partner to many major automotive manufacturers. This means that when our next generation electric taxi hits the roads later this year, drivers will be able to rely on a trusted and proven manufacturer to charge their taxi at home.
Chargemaster’s 7kW homecharge unit can charge three times faster than a standard domestic 3 pin plug. Their units are designed for outdoor use – both robust and weather proof. More importantly, they protect vehicles using built-in electric current management software, which ensures the vehicle doesn’t overcharge when full.
Through our new partnership, we can offer drivers exclusive deals to install a 7kW homecharge unit. Installation will be carried out by a qualified electrician who will issue an electrical certificate, which may be required for home insurance purposes.
Like our new taxi, these chargepoints have been rigorously tested to ensure durability as well as compatibility with the vehicle. This is part of our drive to ensure that all of our partners meet the same high quality standard of the electric taxi itself. Supporting this drive for reliability, all charging units bought through this scheme will come with an improved 5-year warranty compared to the typical 1-3 year warranty period offered as standard.
To deliver a one-stop solution, our retailers and customers will be offered a seamless end-to-end service, from initial enquiry, to charge point installation, driver handover and training.
For drivers who do not have access to off-street parking or home charging solutions, we have been working to boost investment in on-street charging infrastructure. This has included recent deals with BluepointLondon to boost on-street charging in London, whilst we are working with local governments around the UK to ensure that funding set aside for charging infrastructure best supports drivers looking to move towards an electric taxi.
We look forward to sharing more information around ownership of the electric taxi with you soon.
How much will be the Battery life n how much mileage it does gives while on full battery charged. Thanks
Hi Zaheer, the advanced electric powertrain and battery used in the all-new TX allow drivers to cover well over 70 miles of range with zero emissions. In addition, the small on board petrol generator means drivers can cover an additional 400+ miles by using the petrol generator to sustain the battery.
You will need to fit London out with Taxi dedicated charge points. Unless you can reverse the trend towards private hire, Taxis will be too expensive both to buy, and hire. Unless taxis are funded like buses London will grind to a halt with congestion.
Hi Colin,
As part of TFL’s Plug In taxi grant they will provide 400 new rapid (50kW DC) and 150 fast (>22kW) charge points to ensure suitable infrastructure is available to support the progression to electric taxis, and provide assurance that a charge point is never too far away.
How long will it take to be fully charged and how long is it gona last or how many miles can i drive? this is a common question of a taxi driver.
Hi Anwar,
We are confident that the new TX will be able to travel well in excess of 70 miles in pure electric, zero emissions capability.
The speed of charge is dependent on the capacity of the charge post used, a 45 minute charge using a 7kW post would charge the battery 20% (equivalent to 15 miles), a 22kW public post would charge the battery 50% (equivalent to 50 miles), and a rapid public charge 50kW would charge it 70% (equivalent to 110 miles).
What’s more, the TX offers unrivalled flexibility, with slow (>7kW), fast (>22kW) and rapid (50kW DC) charging capabilities via different on board socket types. This means drivers can make maximum use of the available charging infrastructure.
To further optimise the use of electrical energy, regenerative braking has been adopted. This system converts unwanted momentum into energy, charging the battery as the vehicle slows. The level of regeneration during coasting can be adjusted to suit driver preference, and increases as the brake pedal is depressed. In fact, the initial braking effort is provided entirely by the regeneration system, with the mechanical wheel brakes only engaging during heavier braking periods. This both improves the range and reduces wear on brake pads, extending their lifespan.