Frazer-Nash has revealed specifications for the new Range Extended Electric Metrocab taxi.
The British designed, engineered and built Metrocab, from Ecotive and Frazer-Nash, is a new generation zero-emissions electric-powered taxi for London, and represents the cutting edge of green transport technology with a design both evolutionary and sympathetic to the iconic black cab silhouette.
The Range Extended Electric Metrocab taxi will be trialed in the city this week prior to a roll-out in other major UK cities.
The new Metrocab is claimed to be over three times more efficient than the current London cab, capable of returning over 75mpg, saving London cabbies roughly £30 – £40 per day — equivalent to around £9,000 a year. The CO2 output has also been reduced by 75 percent, with emissions of only 50g/km.
Thanks to its 1 liter gasoline engine and 12.2kWh lithium polymer battery pack the Range Extended Electric Metrocab run about 40-50 miles on battery power alone and will have a combined range of around 350 miles with a full tank and battery.
While it has a classic body, the Metrocab also features a panoramic glass roof, driver multi-function touch screen display, TV screens for passengers, USB charging sockets, hands-free phone capability, air suspension, air con, ABS, even mood lighting!
The Metrocab Taxi is capable of carrying six passengers (plus optional seventh passenger seat in the front), and it has a turning circle of 7.62m; a very important factor for a London Taxi. The car has been in development for over 10 years, over which time it’s clocked over a 600.000 engineering test miles.
Also showcased by Frazer-Nash Energy Systems was a new Solar Charging Station model demonstrating the company’s Concentrated PhotoVoltaic Technology that converts light energy into electrical energy for charging the Metrocab lithium-ion polymer battery pack. The company is testing a full size system at its Surrey headquarters for re-charging its Range Extended Electric taxi and intends to roll-out the charging stations in London and other key cities around the world.[wzslider height=”400″ lightbox=”true”]
