Electric black cabs could save 4,000 tonnes of CO2

London could be saved four thousand tonnes of CO2 pollution every week* if all of the Capital’s black cabs were 100% electric, according to the low carbon motor show, EcoVelocity (Sept 8-11).
 
EcoVelocity (ecovelocity.co.uk), the UK’s only show dedicated entirely to showcasing the very latest in cutting-edge eco-friendly motoring, calculated the figure based on the CO2 emissions of London’s 22,000 registered Hackney carriages (black cabs) but the figure would more than triple if London’s PHVs (Private Hire Vehicles or ‘minicabs’) also went electric**.
 
The show’s study took into account the relative CO2 emissions of the three most common Hackney carriages on the Capital’s roads – the TXI, TX II and TX4 cars built by manufacturer, Manganese Bronze – as well as the average mileage of the London cabbie.
 
Road transport is responsible for around 80% of airborne pollution in Central London, where air quality is worst, and black cabs account for 20% of that pollution*.
 
EcoVelocity Event Director, Giles Brown, said: “Black cabs are one of the most common vehicles to see on London’s roads so it’s not surprising that they contribute a large proportion of the Capital’s pollution.
 
“EcoVelocity is all about showing and educating motorists in the UK about greener alternative cars. The amazing figures we’ve uncovered with this study illustrate clearly what a huge difference can be made to our quality of life by making a change.”
 
Manganese Bronze announced in 2008 that it would work on an electric version of its newest black cab, the TX4, but this has not yet materialised. Meanwhile, specialist vehicle distributor, Eco City Vehicles, announced plans last year to develop an all-electric version of the London-licensed Mercedes Vito taxi for PHV drivers.
 
Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, also announced in December last year a raft of ‘clean air’ proposals, designed to improve London’s air quality. Rolling age limits (10 years for black cabs and 15 years for PHVs) will be introduced while, from April 1, 2012, all newly-licensed PHVs must be no more than five years old and meet the EU4 emissions standard. All newly-licensed black cabs must meet EU5 standards.
 
Taxi drivers will also be offered training in eco-driving, in order to promote more efficient driving techniques and reduce emissions, from next year. Eco-driving elements will also be added to the requirements before a new taxi driver is licensed.
 
Mr Brown added: “It is exactly these types of initiatives that EcoVelocity is all about and what we are trying to further. Green motoring is here to stay.”
 
The EcoVelocity Show, run by IMIE, organisers of the British Motor Show and Metro, the World’s largest free newspaper with 3.3 million daily readers across 50 cities nationwide, will be held at Battersea Power Station on September 8-11. 
 
Market leading brands attending the event include Citroen, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, SEAT, Vauxhall, Volkswagen, Volvo, Toyota, Lexus and Mia Electric.
 
Visitors will be able to try out the latest eco-friendly cars on a specially-constructed track in the shadow of the famous power station.
 
Event partners include What Car?, TfL, The Mayor of London, Smooth Radio, Source London, Get On and Green Fleet.
 
EcoVelocity Ticket prices:
Adult £10
Child £5
Family £25
Family ticket – 2 adults and 2 children
 
Buy now on ecovelocity.co.uk
 
*Workings:
TXI average CO2 emissions (across 8 variants) – 233.5g/km (5,971 registered in London)
TXII average CO2 emissions (across 8 variants) – 224.5g/km (6,212 registered in London)
TX4 average CO2 emissions (across 8 variants) – 222.4g/km (6,059 registered in London)
 
Sources: Transport for London Taxi & Private Hire Office, The London Taxi Company and car-emissions.com
 
London black cab average daily mileage – 120 miles or 193km (Source: Licensed Taxi Drivers Association)
 
Collective CO2 emissions for all black cabs = 4,136,344.1g/km
 
4,136,344.1g/km x 260 working days x 193km per day = 207,561,746,938 grams per year, or 3,991.57 (4 thousand) tonnes per week
 
**48,000 registered PHVs in London. Source: TFL Taxi & Private Hire dept