subject: Tiny Electric Taxi Concept Unveiled [print this page] Recently Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London has declared his desire to reduce black cab emissions and to improve the air quality in London. A tiny electric taxi has been unveiled by Volkswagen, it is a battery-powered three-seater based on VWs Up city car.
The concept demonstrated is shorter than the VW Fox, which is the smallest model in VWs line up at the moment, the taxi concept has been cleaver packaged to fit 2 passengers and several pieces of luggage. A wide rear sliding side door provides easy access to the rear of the cabin where the passenger seats are, while the luggage sits up front next to the driver just like in the old-style black cabs.
It has a 113bhp electric motor which gives a top speed of 74mph, and Volkswagen says the 45kWh battery can provide a range of up to 186 miles. It will take just over an hour to charge the battery to 80% of its full capacity.
VW acknowledge that while there are no plans to put the taxi into production just yet, environmental pressure from legislators such as the London Mayor will only improve its chances of being built. VW confirmed that the Up city car is definitely on the way, a two-door version will go on sale next year, followed shortly by a four-door model soon after.
Volkswagen has been busy unveiling cars this year, earlier on in the year it revealed the new Jetta at a VW Jetta dealer in London, the Up is due in 2011 as well as the new Eos. Keeping up with all these new VW models may prove to be quite difficult!
