Chinese E-Cars to turn London Minicabs Green

It is reported that Chinese car manufacturer BYD will help to make the streets of London just a little bit greener after signing a deal with the capital’s second largest minicab service to supply the city’s first fleet of electric taxis.

Greentomatocars, which describe itself as “London’s second largest quality minicab service”, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Shenzhen-based BYD to take 50 of its e6 electric models on a trial basis from mid 2013.

The zero emission e6 car features a 75kW motor and BYD’s Iron Phosphate (Fe) battery, which apparently gives the car 186 miles on a single charge, assuming ‘urban’ conditions, and a top speed of 87mph. The Fe battery can be fully charged and discharged for 4,000 cycles, the firm said.

 

Mayor Boris Johnson has welcomed the news, releasing the following statement: It is my aim that London’s minicabs and taxis will be zero-emission by 2020, which will have a major impact on air quality. Every year the fleet is getting cleaner, making our city an even more attractive place to live, work and visit. Encouraging many more electric vehicles is a key part of this transformation, so it is great news that greentomatocars has committed to operating 50 of these super clean machines from next year.

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