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Black Cabs Go Green for London 2012…The Future for Manchester’s Cabs?

Posted by Rosie on 08.07.10 | Comments

Blog by Rosie Upstill

Manchester: Knowledge Capital’s Research Assistant recently visited the Goodwood Festival of Speed and discovered that innovation is everywhere – even in one of the UK’s most iconic vehicles.

The three-day event near Chichester sees visitors flock from around the globe to marvel at some of the latest and greatest vehicles technology has to offer. Alongside the groups of cars and motorbikes competing in the traditional hill climb are swathes of trade stands adorning the fields beside the track. Here spectators can find FoS-Tech, a stand dedicated to innovation and technology. Alternative fuels and futuristic designs are on display to show how modern manufacturers are designing our cars of the future.

This year, a plain black cab stood amongst the futuristic designs. But this is no ordinary black cab – it is powered by an Intelligent Energy hydrogen fuel cell system, hybridised with lithium polymer batteries. This allows the cab to operate for a full day without the need for refuelling. It is capable of achieving a top speed of over 80 mph, has a range of more than 250 miles on a full tank of hydrogen and refuels in around 5 minutes. The best part? It produces no emissions other than water vapour.

Intelligent Energy, Lotus Engineering, LTI Vehicles and TRW Conekt, with funding from the UK Government’s Technology Strategy Board, have been working together to create the zero-emissions Fuel Cell Hybrid London taxi ready for the London Olympics in 2012. A fleet of 20 ‘green’ cabs will carry London-dwellers about the capital city, helping to reduce the infamous pollution from which London suffers.

While the cab is not yet commercially available and is presently undergoing track and road-testing prior to wider deployment, the vehicle is a sure sign that greener days lie ahead. Although current plans only extend to the London Olympics, Manchester could benefit hugely from the introduction of such zero-emissions taxis.

Hopefully we will be seeing this new breed of ‘green’ cabs on the roads of Manchester in the near future.

Black Cab - Copyright Rosie Upstill

For more information on the Fuel Cell Black Cab, click here.

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