Free - receive our print magazine
The Hydrogen Journal news & articles Social network RSS news feed Hydrogen news on a map About The Hydrogen Journal Links to hydrogen energy websites Links to hydrogen energy events Contact us SISTER PUBLICATIONS
Carbon Capture Journal Digital Energy Journal Tanker Operator
Fuel cell London taxi
Fuel Cells, June 09 2010 (The Hydrogen Journal)
- A fuel cell powered London taxi has been unveiled by London's Deputy Mayor Kit Malthouse.
The fuel cell was developed by Intelligent Energy. Lotus Engineering provided the full propulsion system and packaged it together. TRW Conekt led the safety analysis program, including braking and steering systems. London Taxis International donated the vehicles. Funding was from the UK Government’s Technology Strategy Board.
It also has lithium power batteries.
It can operate for an entire day without refuelling, with a range of over 250 miles. It has a top speed of 80 miles per hour.
The taxi is not yet on the roads - it is undergoing track and road-testing prior to wider deployment and will also need to meet London Public Carriage Office conformity for use as taxi on public roads.
Transport for London plans to have at least 20 fuel cell taxis on the London roads in time for the London Olympics in 2012.
London also plans 6 hydrogen refuelling stations by 2012, and five hydrogen fuel cell buses to be on the London roads later in 2010.
"To put an entirely new fuel cell hybrid electric zero emissions ‘engine’ into the existing vehicle design in such a short amount of time and still deliver performance, refuelling speeds and range, is a fantastic achievement for all the companies involved,” says Intelligent Energy.
