Electric Taxi Test Drive Scheme Extended in Reading

London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) Slough has announced an extension of its 48-hour test drive scheme in Reading due to unprecedented demand.

Since the launch of the test drive scheme in November 2019, all available test drive slots have been booked. For drivers who are interested in test driving the world’s most advanced electric taxi, the Slough dealership – located on Bath Road – will now be taking on additional extended test drive bookings as the scheme extends to February 2020. The 48-hour test drive provides hackney carriage drivers across Berkshire and Reading with an opportunity to get substantial time behind the wheel of the TX electric taxi and discover the many benefits of this state-of-the-art vehicle. LEVC has already experienced very positive feedback from taxi drivers in the area. One cabbie rated TX’s driving experience and comfort level “excellent” while another went on to say: “a very nice-looking vehicle, drives great, passengers loved it”. All of the drivers interviewed confirmed that they would think about switching to an LEVC electric taxi in the future. In February this year, Reading Borough Council announced a Climate Emergency and committed to being a net zero carbon town by 2030. Also this year, the Council adopted a new emissions policy for black cabs which will remove older polluting vehicles from Reading’s roads, incentivising the replacement of them with newer taxis which help improve air quality, including electric vehicles.

Tony Page, Reading’s Lead Councilor for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport, said:

“We know that road transport is the largest source of carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution in Reading and the Council is determined to do everything we can to build on our success to date and create a net zero carbon Reading by 2030.

"We have adopted a package of measures which – over a number of years – will reduce and eventually remove altogether the most polluting black cabs on Reading’s roads. “This will help to improve local air quality and reduce the impact that air pollution has on the health of Reading’s residents. Sat alongside Reading’s new emissions policy for taxis, initiatives such as this by LEVC Slough will play an important role in helping to convince taxi drivers of the benefits, both to Reading and to themselves, of switching to an electric vehicle. I know the trial is being well received already and I would urge as many of Reading’s taxi drivers as possible to book a test drive.” There has been major demand for the TX across the UK and Europe with 3,000 sold since its launch in early 2018, with drivers enjoying fuel savings of up to £100 per week thanks to the TX’s clever eCity technology, which combines 80 miles of zero-emission pure electric range with the flexibility of a total electrically driven range of 377 miles – made possible thanks to an on-board range-extender. Passengers also benefit from the enhanced driving experience with a whole host of new features at their disposal, including: WIFI, USB and laptop charging, a large panoramic roof, six seats and of course, the class leading accessibility features synonymous with the black cab.

About LEVC

Since 2014, GEELY has invested more than £500m into the London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC), allowing it to build an entirely new manufacturing facility in Ansty, Coventry. LEVC manufactures the world’s only purpose-built, range extended electric taxi from its state-of-the-art factory and its future vision as the leading European green commercial mobility solution provider. Since January 2018, well over 3,000 electric taxis have been produced, having already prevented 6,800 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere and as a result, saving 850,000 litres of fuel. By 2022, the Ansty facility will be working at full capacity, building 20,000 vehicles a year that include the TX Taxi, TX Shuttle and the LCV, a new electric urban van which will be launched in 2020.