A NEW generation of plug-in hybrid taxis will soon ply London streets and will be green enough to satisfy the toughest emissions regulations foreseeable.
THE Metrocab REE is the brainchild of British manufacturer Fraser Nash and a development partner, Ecotive. They will be putting the car through its paces in the British capital this summer before offering the cab for sale in early 2015.
The taxi has been under development for nearly 10 years and was endorsed earlier this year by London mayor Boris Johnson, who was pictured behind the wheel giving a thumbs-up sign.
The Metrocab comes with a 1-litre petrol-powered combustion engine and an electric motor at each of the rear wheels.
It is said to be three times more economical than the current diesel cab, the various incarnations of which have been a familiar sight on London streets for decades.
Metrocab based in the Surrey town of Mychett says the green cab can carry up to six passengers and boasts a range of about 80 kilometres in all-electric mode.
The batteries take five hours to charge. When they flag, the engine cuts in. It replenishes the lithium-ion units via a generator, boosting overall range to 450 kilometres. The makers hope successful cab trials in London may trigger export orders.
Source: http://www.news.com.au/world/breaking-news/new-plug-in-taxi-is-londons-greenest-cab/story-e6frfkui-1226995966178
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