As part of the company’s most comprehensive test program conducted in its 98-year history, The London Taxi Company (LTC) has taken its new electric black cab to the Arctic Circle.
Tests have been conducted in -15°C to ensure that the battery and range of the vehicle are not disproportionately affected by cold weather. Engineers have also conducted checks of the heating and ventilation inside the cabin. Grip, driveability and visibility have also been analyzed.
This regime to check vehicle performance in the harshest conditions is set to become more stringent over the coming weeks – for example, the vehicle will be cooled down in giant fridges to -49°C to ensure cold start.
Quality director, Wolfram Liedtke, said, “Our new taxi is being developed with two key engineering principles – quality and endurance to meet the needs of the demanding taxi duty cycle. We are now nearing the end of our development program and will soon commit the product to series production at our all-new manufacturing facility in Ansty, near Coventry.”
Feedback of cab drivers is a hugely important part of the development of this vehicle, too. Steve McNamara, general secretary at the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association joined LTC for part of the test program. “It was truly amazing to witness the new London black cab being tested in such an extreme climate and performing so well,” commented McNamara.
March 15, 2017
