Range-extended electric Metrocab licensed to carry fare-paying passengers in London
11 February 2015
The range-extended electric Metrocab has become the first zero-emission-capable taxi to be licensed by Transport for London to operate on a trial basis as a London Hackney Carriage. The first few Metrocabs are already in operation on the streets of London.
The taxi is driven by two 50 kW (peak) electric motors, range-extended with a Euro-5 1-liter gasoline engine coupled with a generator to recharge the 12.2 kWh battery pack (which takes as little as 10 minutes while driving). Peak wheel torque is 2 x 1,400 N·m (1,033 lb-ft). The Metrocab’s Range-Extended-Electric (REE) technology, developed by Frazer-Nash Research and Ecotive, delivers a range of 560 km (348 miles), typically saving a London taxi driver £20-£40 (US$31-$61) per day based on the average cab duty cycle in the capital.
The Metrocab has also been shortlisted for the London Transport Awards 2015, in the Taxi & Private Hire Innovator of the Year category.
An on-board 3.3 kW charger also supports recharging via any mains electric outlet.
The Metrocab delivers 82 mpg US (2.88 l/100 km) on the ECE101 Cycle—more than three times more fuel efficient than comparable current London taxi. CO2 emissions are less than 50 g/km.
http://www.newmetrocab.com/
Posted by: dursun | 11 February 2015 at 02:28 PM