LEVC TX
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox automobile
| name = LEVC TX
| image = 2019 LEVC TX Vista Comfort Plus 1.5.jpg
| caption = 2019 LEVC TX Vista
| manufacturer = London EV Company (Geely)
| aka =
| production = 2017–present
| model_years =
| assembly = United Kingdom: Coventry (Ansty Park plant)
China: Yiwu (Geely)
| designer =
| class =
| body_style = Hackney carriage
| layout = Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
| platform =
| related = LEVC VN5
| engine = {{ubl
| 1.5 L B3154T I3 (range extender)
}}
| motor = 2x {{convert|110|kW|PS|abbr=on}} Siemens permanent magnet synchronous
| drivetrain = Plug-in series hybrid
| battery = 31 kW·h, 400 V lithium ion
| range = {{convert|377|mi|km|abbr=on}}
| electric_range = {{convert|80.6|mi|km|abbr=on}}
| charging = {{ubl
| 22 kW AC
| 50 kW DC
}}
| wheelbase = {{convert|2986|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| length = {{convert|4857|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| width = {{convert|1874|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| height = {{convert|1888|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|2230|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}
| predecessor = TX4
| successor =
| sp = uk
| doors = {{ubl
| Conventional doors (front)
| Coach doors (rear)
}}
| capacity =
}}
The LEVC TX{{cite web |language=en |url=http://www.levc.com/technology/tx-price-specification/ |title=TX – Price and Specification Guide |publisher=LEVC |access-date=12 January 2018 }} (previously known as the TX5) is a purpose-built hackney carriage manufactured by the British commercial vehicle maker London EV Company (LEVC), a subsidiary of the Chinese carmaker Geely.{{cite news |last1=Anthony |first1=Sebastian |url=https://arstechnica.co.uk/cars/2017/03/electric-tx5-black-cabs-start-rolling-off-the-production-line/ |title=Electric TX5 black cabs start rolling off the production line |publisher=Ars Technica |date=23 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201150847/https://arstechnica.com/cars/2017/03/electric-tx5-black-cabs-start-rolling-off-the-production-line/ |archive-date=1 February 2018 |access-date=23 March 2017 |url-status=live}} It is the latest in a succession of purpose-built hackney carriages produced by LEVC and various predecessor entities. The LEVC TX is a plug-in hybrid range-extender electric vehicle.{{cite news |last1=Allan |first1=Lawrence |title=New 'TX' electric London Taxi priced at £55,599 |url=http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/98450/new-tx-electric-london-taxi-priced-at-55599 |work=Autocar Express |publisher=Dennis Publishing |date=5 December 2017 |access-date=4 January 2018 }}
The vehicle is designed to comply with Transport for London’s Taxi Private Hire regulations, which banned new diesel-powered taxis from January 2018, requiring zero-emissions capability.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Emissions standards for taxis |url=https://www.tfl.gov.uk/info-for/taxis-and-private-hire/emissions-standards-for-taxis |access-date=2022-07-11 |website=Transport for London |language=en-GB}}
Background
In the late 2000s, Geely was in talks over the possibility of converting London's black cabs into electric-powered vehicles.{{cite web |first= |date=20 October 2008 |title=Geely: we'll make an electric London Cab |url=http://www.chinacartimes.com/2008/10/20/geely-well-make-an-electric-london-cab/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304191036/http://www.chinacartimes.com/2008/10/20/geely-well-make-an-electric-london-cab/ |archive-date=4 March 2009 |access-date=1 December 2012 |website=China Car Times |publisher=China Times}} From 2014, Geely invested £480m in LEVC to develop a new taxi, with a new factory to be built near Coventry.{{Cite magazine |last=Reynolds |first=Matt |date=29 May 2018 |title=An obscure Chinese firm has taken over London's black cabs. Its next target? Beat Uber at its own game |language=en-GB |magazine=Wired UK |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/levc-geely-london-electric-black-taxis-cabs |access-date=2022-07-20 |issn=1357-0978}}{{Cite web |title=London EV Company – Zhejiang Geely Holding Group |url=http://zgh.com/our-brands/london-ev-company/?lang=en |access-date=2022-07-20 |language=en-US}}{{cite news |date=26 March 2015 |title=London Taxi Company Coventry plant to create 1,000 jobs |work=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-32063233 |access-date=26 March 2015}} Geely hoped to manufacture 36,000 vehicles per annum.{{Cite news |date=20 May 2016 |title=City AM |url=http://www.cityam.com/ |access-date=20 May 2016}} The vehicle entered production in 2017.
In January 2020, LEVC announced plans to market the TX in Japan{{cite web | url=https://uk.motor1.com/news/392479/levc-tx-taxi-japan/ | title=LEVC Taxi heads to Japan }} with Fleetway and Service Company as the Japanese distributor.{{cite web | url=https://levc.auto.staging.netdirector.auto/corporate/news/levc-in-japan/ | title=Approved Used }} Deliveries were reported to be made in Q2 2020.
LEVC reported that taxis were sold in Azerbaijan for Baku Taxi Service in March 2020.{{cite web | url=https://uk.motor1.com/news/404274/levc-tx-red-azerbaijan/ | title=LEVC TX black cabs turn red for Azerbaijan }}
Technical
File:2019 LEVC TX Vista Comfort Plus 7.jpg
The LEVC TX is built on a unique platform, underpinned by a bonded aluminium chassis built in the UK, giving the LEVC TX a 32 percent parts localisation rate by value. China and Europe each account for 32 percent of the content, while United States content is 4 percent.{{cite web |language=en |url=http://europe.autonews.com/article/20170424/ANE/170429944/how-volvo-helped-to-electrify-the-london-black-cab |title=How Volvo helped to electrify the London black cab |last=Gibbs |first=Nick |website=Automotive News |date=24 April 2017 |access-date=20 June 2017 }}
The vehicle's styling is an evolution of the now iconic shape begun with the original Austin FX4 of 1958, and the later TX1/TXII/TX4 series, although the distinctive rear hinged "suicide doors" last seen on the FX4 have returned.
The LEVC TX is powered by a full-electric hybrid drivetrain.
It drives in full-electric mode all the time, but is recharged by an {{convert|81|hp|kW PS|0|adj=on}} Volvo-sourced 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine.
The LEVC TX is fitted with a {{convert|33|kWh}} battery pack supplied by LG Chem, and powers a {{convert|110|kW|hp PS|0|adj=on}} Siemens-built electric motor for traction.{{Cite web |url=https://www.adandp.media/articles/the-london-cab-where-tradition-intersects-with-contemporaneity |title=Where Tradition Intersects with Contemporaneity |work=Automotive Design & Production |date=30 November 2017 |access-date=13 December 2017}}
When the battery pack has insufficient charge to power the vehicle, the petrol engine is claimed to achieve {{cvt|36.7|mpgimp}}.{{cite web |language=en |url=https://www.levc.com/tx-cost-comparison/ |title=TX Cost comparison fuel savings |website= www.levc.com |date=2018 |access-date=2018-09-22}}File:LEVC TX London Taxi, Charing Cross Station - geograph.org.uk - 5910490.jpgs on the TX]]The charge connectors are mounted either side of the radiator grille, and are a CCS socket, capable of 50 kW DC and 22 kW AC, and an optional 50 kW capable CHAdeMO connector.{{cite web |language=en |url=https://www.levc.com/file/brochure/?id=518 |title=Levc TX Price and Specification |website=www.levc.com |date=April 2018 |access-date=2018-11-28}}
In accordance to London taxi regulation, the LEVC TX offers a turning circle of {{convert|8.45|m|ft|abbr=out}} ({{convert|4.23|m|ft|abbr=on}} of radius) which made possible by the front wheels that turn up to 63 degrees, instead of the typical 38 degrees.{{Cite web |date=4 December 2017 |title=Taxi for Reid: Rory tests London's new plug-in black cab Reviews 2023 |url=https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/ecity/first-drive |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=Top Gear |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=British Built Cars {{!}} LEVC – TX taxi/TX Shuttle |url=https://www.britishbuiltcars.co.uk/Cars/cardetail/525/LEVC/TX%20taxi/TX%20Shuttle |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=www.britishbuiltcars.co.uk}} The LEVC TX also has a wheelchair ramp, which can be manually deployed by the driver when required.
Service history
The TX took advantage of 2018 Transport for London rules that allowed only zero-emission capable vehicles to become additions to the city's taxi fleet.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/mar/06/london-black-cabs-hail-treasury-for-scrapping-car-tax|title=London black cabs hail Treasury for scrapping car tax|last1=Topham|first1=Gwyn|date=6 March 2018|work=The Guardian|access-date=6 August 2018}} By February 2018 it was the only taxi capable of meeting these rules.{{Cite web|url=https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/cleaner-greener-taxis|title=Cleaner greener taxis|website=TFL|access-date=2018-02-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802223427/https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/cleaner-greener-taxis|archive-date=2 August 2018|url-status=dead}}
By April 2022, over 5,000 TX vehicles has been sold in London, around a third of London's taxi fleet.{{Cite web |date=27 April 2022 |title=LEVC CELEBRATES SALE OF 5000TH TX ELECTRIC TAXI IN LONDON |url=https://levc.com/levc-celebrates-sale-of-5000th-tx-electric-taxi-in-london/ |access-date=2022-07-11 |website=LEVC |language=en-US}} In May 2022, LEVC announced that over 7,000 taxis had been sold worldwide.{{Cite web |date=18 May 2022 |title=LEVC CELEBRATES MILESTONE OF 7,000 GLOBAL ELECTRIC TAXI SALES |url=https://levc.com/levc-celebrates-milestone-of-7000-global-electric-taxi-sales/ |access-date=2022-07-11 |website=LEVC |language=en-US}}
Outside London, the TX5 also serves as a taxi in Austria,{{cite web | url=https://www.electrive.com/2021/02/13/levc-appoints-distributor-in-austria/ | title=LEVC appoints distributor in Austria }} Australia,{{Cite web |title=Geely Commercial Vehicles Enter Southeast Asia |url=https://zgh.com/media-center/news/20191106_1/?lang=en |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=Media Center – Zhejiang Geely Holding Group |language=en-US}} Azerbaijan,{{cite web | url=https://www.electrive.com/2020/03/09/azerbaijan-receives-100-red-electric-cabs-from-levc/ | title=Azerbaijan receives 100 red electric cabs from LEVC }} China, Denmark, France, Germany,{{Cite web |title=Shuttle-Dienst in Hamburg nutzt elektrische London Taxis |url=https://www.kfz-betrieb.vogel.de/shuttle-dienst-in-hamburg-nutzt-elektrische-london-taxis-gal-740695/?p=10 |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=www.kfz-betrieb.vogel.de |language=de}} India,{{Cite news |date=31 March 2022 |title=Iconic London black cabs in India now in e-avtaar as MUVs |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/iconic-london-black-cabs-in-india-now-in-e-avtaar-as-muvs/articleshow/90576722.cms |access-date=2023-07-31 |issn=0971-8257}} Israel,{{Cite web |last= |date=10 August 2021 |title=LEVC'S GLOBAL EXPANSION CONTINUES WITH LAUNCH OF TX AND VN5 IN ISRAEL |url=https://levc.com/levcs-global-expansion-continues-with-launch-of-tx-and-vn5-in-israel/ |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=LEVC |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=27 February 2022 |title=N12 – המוניות מלונדון מגיעות לישראל: כך הן ייראו |url=https://www.mako.co.il/news-money/consumer/Article-f1a6ad2ce4c3f71027.htm |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=N12}} Japan,{{cite web | url=https://levc.com/case_studies/keio-taxi/ | title=Keio Taxi }} Poland,{{cite web | url=https://levc.auto.staging.netdirector.auto/corporate/news/levc-poland/ | title=Approved Used }} Spain{{cite web | url=https://levc.auto.staging.netdirector.auto/corporate/news/barcelona_partner/ | title=Approved Used }} and Switzerland.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.levc.com/tx-electric-taxi/ LEVC TX official website]
{{London Hackney Carriage Taxicabs}}
Category:Taxis of the United Kingdom
Category:Cars introduced in 2017