London Getting Electric Taxi Cabs in 2009

London Mayor Boris Johnson will likely be giving the go-ahead to replace London’s famed black TX4 taxis with new electric versions sometime in early 2009.  Technical details aren’t available yet, but the aim is a top speed of 50mph and a range of 100 miles per charge.

From Register Hardware, via Geeks are Sexy:

The vehicle will use a lithium-ion iron phosphate battery pack, and is hoped to have a running cost of 4p a mile, though that’s after the yet-to-be-determined initial purchase price. No news on where exactly the battery pack will go, either, BMW’s answer – sticking it where the rear seats used to be – clearly not being an option.

London, like many big cities, has an air quality problem and replacing some of the cars on its streets is a great step toward addressing it. I’m glad they’re keeping the iconic design and not trying to modernize them, though – it’s such a classic look. Sexy, in a blockish English kind of way.

Link [Register Hardware] via [Geeks are Sexy]

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