The fleet of black cabs that serve the streets of London are a traditional and globally-recognised feature of the capital city’s transport network but - in three years’ time - new zero-emission taxis are set to hit the roads. London is the host city for the 2012 Olympic Games and, by then, it is hoped that the new hydrogen fuel cell-powered cabs will be in service.

With that aim in mind, the environmentally friendly vehicle technology behind these cabs is being worked on right now, and trials of it are soon set to take place.

Fuel Cell Black Cabs

In terms of both their appearance and the way they handle, the new hydrogen fuel cell black cabs will strongly resemble the old, familiar ones. They will be able to achieve over 80 miles per hour, reach 60 miles per hour from a standing start in 14 seconds and travel in excess of 250 miles on a single hydrogen tank.

Hydrogen is viewed by many as an attractive future vehicle power option. Renewable energy sources like solar and wind power can be used from the outset to divide water down into its individual oxygen and hydrogen components, and this hydrogen can then be sent from plants through to refuelling sites. However, rather than draw on renewable energy sources, the new low-emission London cabs will probably begin by using oil-derived fuel, instead.

Fuel Cell Car Technology: London Taxis

The fuel cell car technology that the new London taxis will incorporate is manufactured by Intelligent Energy – a representative of which explained the idea behind them. “The intent is to take the taxis and retrofit a powertrain that has zero tailpipe emissions”, IE’s Herni Winand told the Guardian. “But also it has to deliver some very important things: a reasonable range, very quick refuelling time and no modifying the passenger or driver space.”

Among the other firms collaborating with Intelligent Energy is Lotus, which is responsible for fusing the fuel cell technology into the existing taxi shell.

“There is a global drive to reduce CO2 emission levels and this is something we are dedicated to, for both Lotus cars and our engineering clients”, Lotus Engineering’s Simon Wood stressed. “The fuel cell hybrid taxi” represents a “fantastic achievement for all the companies involved”, he said, adding: “the taxi is already running through a series of tests.”

In August 2009, details emerged of plans to create a large-scale ‘hydrogen highway’ in London, with hydrogen taxis (as well as buses and private motor vehicles) forming a part of this. Commenting then, officials linked to Boris Johnson - the Mayor of London - predicted that over 30 per cent of British cars could be hydrogen-powered within the next two decades.

See also:

Wales to Host Extensive UK Hydrogen Highway