Green News: London Taxi Plugs In
A prototype electric version of the Mercedes Vito Taxi has been designed and built in just six months by a consortium of British technology companies in time for the trials.
The prototype vehicle meets the demanding requirements of the London Carriage Office and can carry up to six people more than 120 kilometres on a single six hour charge.
The E-Vito taxi uses a new 70kW version of Zytek’s electric drivetrain and a custom-designed Vocis gearbox built by Graziano. To maximise interior space, the vehicle has been converted to front wheel drive to allow the 35kWh Valence Li-Ion battery pack to be installed beneath the vehicle floor. By lowering the centre of gravity, the low mounting point also improves vehicle stability and ride quality. A steerable rear axle provides the tiny 25ft (7.6m) turning circle required by all licensed black cabs operating in London.
The electric drive uses the existing engine mounting points with minor revisions and requires just three additional connections (water, high voltage electrics and low voltage electrics). It interfaces with all existing vehicle systems including ABS (Antilock Braking System), ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) and OBD (onboard diagnostics). Performance at city speeds is said to be lively, as expected by London’s cabbies.
Credits: wilswong
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