What would be the best Manufacturer/petrol engine car to be used as a Taxi or is diesel still the way forward ?

For which location?

EV Taxis are the way forward for UK Cities as there are fleets of them around Europe now.

Nissan Leaf being popular.

There are quite a few Toyota Prius used as taxis in Melbourne.

Euro6 diesels will be a staple for some time yet I imagine.

1 minute ago, Awayoffski said:

For which location?

EV Taxis are the way forward for UK Cities as there are fleets of them around Europe now.

Nissan Leaf being popular.

 

For a Town based Taxi George.  ( Rank/Office based, Black plate ). Regarding EV. would a Nissan Leaf be capable of doing a few trips around town then possibly a round trip to an Airport ( 90 mile round trip ). Harrogate to Heathrow and back ? ( 400 mile round trip )

Doubtful on a Leaf for Airport Transport.

So many people use the Taxi Term when there are so many types of Taxi / Mini Cab / Airport Transport type vehicles.

What the Government bring in after June 9th on emissions for City Centres or other Urban Areas in the UK will make such a difference to 'Taxi's' i would imagine.

Dubious about a Leaf; my knowledge of them suggests a practicable range of about 70 miles between charges which take several hours.

They certainly need to suit the location and use they are going to be put to, and where charging is not an issue due to the local authority supporting low or zero emissions.

http://fuelincluded.com/2016/02/dundees-electric-taxi-fleet-reaches-a-million-miles 

http://fuelincluded.com/2015/01/taxi-company-hails-new-nissan-e-nv200 

 

 

Edited 16 May, 20179 yr by Awayoffski

Aren't the new LTI Black Cabs going to be electric???   How are they dealing with range?

 

my bad - its a petrol electric hybrid...

Edited 16 May, 20179 yr by skomaz
petrol electric hybrid

I know local authorities are thinking about putting in charging points at taxi ranks to facilitate a move to EVs. But I don't think anyone has done it yet.

http://wired.co.uk/article/london-taxi-company-electric-vehicles-uk 

We have tonnes of Prius cabs here and now over the past few days I've seen a pair of Nissan Leafs humming about too. The city centre to the outskirts of town is around 5 miles/15 min. If you were taking people home from the city and running empty back each time you could smash out 10 to 12 trips on a single charge, plenty to do half a day or so, quick charge to 80% and lunch then do another few hours before finishing. Clearly it wouldnt work for airport runs but local stop start it can work. 

+1 for Prius (but not the Honda lookalike which is miles off on the mpg in real world comparisons)

Think my much loved Octavia 2 L&K with the 1.8 TSI and 7 speed DSG would have made a good taxi.

 

Economical, very relaxing to drive.

 

I have been in a few Prius taxis but find them under powered compared to the Octy, smaller boot etc.  

 

Superb 4X4 L&K DSG 280 hp, what is not to like?

 

In Brum taxis are to be electric http://birminghamnewsroom.com/birmingham-awarded-2-9m-for-major-electric-taxi-scheme/ 

@lol-lol,

 

Would this be upto the job ?

 

www.dacia.co.uk

 

 

On 2017-5-16 at 13:51, KenONeill said:

Dubious about a Leaf; my knowledge of them suggests a practicable range of about 70 miles between charges which take several hours.

There's one by me that's been trundling round for a couple of years. I think he pops down to the local garden centre to top up at meal times and doesn't seem to struggle for range.

1 hour ago, Auric Goldfinger said:

@lol-lol,  Would this be up to the job ?

www.dacia.co.uk

 

Personally I would not vote for it despite loving my Logan to bits. 40k miles just coming up.  Has handled 4 adults and 600 litres of luggage no problem when heading to and from cruise liner terminal.

 

Firstly there is no auto in the UK which I would count as a prerequisite for a taxi.

 

The Dacia Lodgy I have seen in many European countries which is oft used as a taxi, and other duties......  

He is a Gib RN one down the bottom of the post.....

You can get some of these with the Dacia/Renault easy-R autobox, 7 seats for silly money.

Might be all we can afford after BREXIT  !!  

 

 

 

Edited 17 May, 20179 yr by lol-lol

14 hours ago, Dr Zoidberg said:

There's one by me that's been trundling round for a couple of years. I think he pops down to the local garden centre to top up at meal times and doesn't seem to struggle for range.

Sure; my report was based on multiple examples, including one that just can do "home to church and back" with the rector's husband driving it, and just can't with her driving. I don't know her full postal address, just the town, but I do know that the short route is 34 miles (RAC roadbook figure) centre to centre.

 

This poses restrictions on the routes they can use (him more so) to the extent that they can't go round the back of Greenock, or round the shore road through Gourock, but have to go through the Spango Valley.

On 16/05/2017 at 15:01, Awayoffski said:

http://wired.co.uk/article/london-taxi-company-electric-vehicles-uk 

Must have been very interesting testing any version of the black cab in Artic conditions. Heater ok, but rear end of a RWD vehicle is one of the lightest I know of , especially the first model ,with it's archaic front drum brakes. I did a bit of part time taxi driving years ago, and had the privilege of taking one of the designers home in one of these, and when asked what I thought of it I mentioned how I thought the vehicle need an additional braking system ( such as an anchor ) to help it to stop. Next version had disc brakes on front. Any greasy /icy road, all that was needed to turn vehicle was to turn wheel and give the ( overpowered) engine a bit of gas. As for driving them in a bit of a breeze- lets just say it's an interesting experience.

As for an all electric Taxi- with today's battery situation, I'd suggest that total reliance on a battery would mean vehicle spent more time on charge than driving. And in summer- when it's hot outside- AC is needed.In winter, sitting on the rank needs heater- both gulp power from the electrics.

Best compromise would be electric with generator backup.

Probably why it says there is a 3 cylinder Volvo Engine as a generator & it can do 70 miles just on Electric.

These Swedish Chinese know a bit about designing cars and cold weather.

 

So a 3 cylinder petrol and fuel for that, a battery pack, regenerative braking, electric motors for drive and maybe even AWD as an option 

if motors are at all 4 wheels should see it cope with city streets i would imagine.

Edited 18 May, 20179 yr by Awayoffski