London EV Company celebrates 5,000 sales of plug-in taxi

The London EV Company (LEVC), formerly The London Taxi Corporation famous for its black London taxicabs, is this week celebrating the sale of its 5,000^th plug-in hybrid taxi, the TX, to a private taxi business in Germany.

The London Taxi Corporation was able to trace its history back to 1919, and its iconic black London taxicabs became as familiar in person and on film as the yellow New York taxicab (though minus the angry shouting). And yes, those brightly illuminated taxicabs from the Closing Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics were cabs made by The London Taxi Corporation.

In 2017, driven by the persistent global transition to electric vehicles, the company rebranded as the London EV Company (LEVC) and began making the TX plug-in hybrid electric taxi.

Since sales began in 2018, LEVC has now sold 5,000 TX taxis, which cumulatively have covered a total distance of 302 million kilometres – roughly equivalent to driving around the world 7,500 times – and prevented more than 57,000 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere, prevented 35 million litres of fuel from being pumped, and saved drivers around $61 million in fuel costs.

The announcement of the 5,000^th sale comes less than two years after the company celebrated the sale of its 2,500^th TX, back in August of 2019.

“With 5,000 electric TXs now on the road, I’m proud of LEVC’s positive contribution to air quality improvements in cities around the word,” said Joerg Hofmann, LEVC CEO.

“Our unique eCity technology delivers zero emissions capability with a total range of more than 300 miles – a critical combination needed by commercial operators.

“Our fast-paced European network expansion continues this year and with the recent introduction of VN5, our new electric van, LEVC will appeal to even more businesses looking to switch to greener, cleaner transport​.”

The owner of LEVCs 5,000^th TX is Serkan Demir, a self-employed taxi driver of five years who plans to operate his TX in Berlin as a service for private and business passengers. Demir will look to work closely with local Berlin clinics and health services to provide transport for wheelchair users.

“Not only will this vehicle save me money in the long run, but it will also mean I can offer a better service to my customers,” he said.

Able to seat six passengers, but with wheelchair accessibility thanks to a fold-away ramp, the TX boasts a 100-kilometre electric-only range, and a total range of 510-kilometres thanks to the vehicle’s range extender powertrain.

Electric charging can be done with both Chademo and Type 2/CCS charging ports at speeds starting from home at 3kW to on-street rapid-charging of 50kW.