By Miles Johnson
LONDON, Oct 22 (Docklands Wire) – Docklands taxi drivers, their earnings damaged by high diesel costs, hope plans for a fleet of electric black cabs for the capital will save them money.
Chinese carmaker Geely Automobile, co-owner of London taxi manufacturer Manganese Bronze, told the Financial Times earlier this week it had discussed the possibility of converting the classic black taxi cab into electric-powered vehicles with London mayor Boris Johnson.
“Anything that drives down the costs of going to work has got to be a good thing, and if it’s good for the environment too then great”, said Michael Hatt, a 52 year-old cab driver who frequently operates in the Docklands.
John Mulchrone, a 57 year-old black-cab driver from Tower Hamlets, said: “It depends on what the capacity will be but if you could get 100 miles before they had to be recharged I think cab drivers would be joining a big queue to get one because of the price of diesel.”
The mayor’s office and Manganese Bronze did not return calls from Docklands Wire seeking comment.
Black-cab drivers have been stretched by rising fuel costs this year. Most taxis run on diesel, currently more expensive than petrol: the average UK price of diesel is 116.7 pence per litre, while petrol costs 105.2p, according to the AA’s fuel price report.
Steve McNamara from the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association said: “We welcome a green vehicle but it has to be affordable. There has been initial talk of a cost price of over £50,000 per cab so you have to be saving an awful lot on fuel to justify spending £20,000 extra on a vehicle.”
The most recent black cab, the TX4, costs around £35,000.
Geely owns about 23 percent of Manganese Bronze and 51 percent of a Shanghai-based joint venture with the UK company that will manufacture London black cabs in China from December.
A black cab in Canary Wharf in London's Docklands, October 20 2008. Photograph by Miles Johnson.
