| All-electric Taxi Could Transform Transport |
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AN innovative all-electric taxi with the potential to transform the way people use public transport was unveiled in the The ‘E Vito taxi’ - a prototype developed by a consortium including automotive Lichfield engineering specialists Zytek and Coventry technology experts Penso – can transport up to six passengers in comfort over a range of almost 75 miles from a single six-hour full charge, It is also licensed for use in London, with zero tailpipe emissions and very low noise pollution. Speaking at the demonstration event in Lichfield Mr Austin said: “The black taxi cab is an iconic vehicle that many of us will have used at some time”. “It’s exciting that such a widely used method of transport has become the first vehicle to incorporate this innovative ‘market-ready’ technology – which could potentially be introduced in time to serve the many thousands of tourists visiting The West Midlands is home to the largest cluster of automotive businesses in the Neil Cheeseman, programme manager at Zytek Automotive, said: “The range and performance of the E Vito make it perfect for inner city transport; not only does it deliver a significant reduction in CO2 emissions but also significant costs savings - a full charge costs less than £2.50 - which can be passed on to users in the form of reduced fares.” “The 70kW Zytek electric drive system used in the E Vito taxi is suitable for a variety of passenger car and light commercial vehicle applications and gives the The taxi meets all of the legislative requirements of the Public Carriage Office and incorporates the 38kWh Valence Li-Ion battery power pack installed in a weatherproof enclosure beneath the vehicle floor, so the internal space of the taxi will remain unaffected by the electric conversion, not compromising luggage space and also improving vehicle stability. |