London Taxi Company (LTC) took their upcoming TX5
range-extended electric cab for some testing in the extreme heat of the Arizona
desert. LTC’s new taxi, scheduled to go on sale towards the end of the year, is
going to be the “most comprehensively tested product in the company’s history”
in order to ensure that it meets not just the high regulatory standards of
London but around the world as well.
The prototype TX5 undertook successfully daily
journeys of 300 miles, roughly triple the average daily mileage of a typical
London cab, making sure that cab drivers will get an big-enough range from a
tank of fuel for every situation.
The British company also said that despite the harsh
climate conditions, the cabin continues to offer a comfortable environment to
both the driver and passengers. The new TX5 will also come with a panoramic
roof, further enhancing the travel experience of the passengers.
The new TX5 is designed to meet London’s new
taxi regulations, which from January 1, 2018 demand that all taxis presented
for licensing for the first time must emit no more than 50g/km of CO2 and offer
a minimum 30-mile zero-emissions driving range. LTC is planning to start
demonstrating the new TX5 in London this summer.