LEVC TX, London's electrified taxi, lands in Japan

Getting around the city is becoming increasingly complex, and we know that some capitals make it harder than others. London has one of the toughest regulations in Europe regarding entry into the city centre, which is why electrified taxis have been operating in the British capital for several years. And among them, the LEVC TX stands out, created specifically to fulfil this role.

This taxi has passed all the tests in the United Kingdom and now has turned its attention to the Japanese market, where it believes it can be popular and offer a good service in Japanese cities. The electric taxi will arrive in the Japanese market next February, and the first deliveries will take place at the end of this year, 2020.

The LEVC TX has been designed by London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) and, although it is basically a plug-in hybrid, it can be considered an electric car with an engine to extend its range. In pure electric mode it can travel 130 kilometres, and it has a 1.5-litre Volvo engine as a range extender that helps if it runs out of electricity far from a charging point.

With this engine it can reach a range of up to 600 kilometres, so you can travel with complete peace of mind. The 31 kWh battery pack powers a 110 kW electric motor, equivalent to 150 CV, which drives the rear axle.

As for the service it offers, this London taxi has considerable interior space and therefore can meet the demands of Japanese passengers. A panoramic roof and charging points for passengers’ mobile devices and laptops are further features that improve users’ comfort.

To move around the city, this taxi has a turning circle of 8.45 metres. This allows it to manoeuvre through the city with ease and offer its customers a good service experience. The car’s success in the United Kingdom has been matched by sales in France, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and the Middle East. In all these markets 3,800 units have been sold, at a price of around 72,555 dollars.