There are now more electric taxis than diesel-powered ones in London

London’s black cab drivers are famous for their iconic taxis and their impressively memorised knowledge of the UK’s capital city, so arguably they’re a pretty good barometer for what makes a decent city car.

And it would seem that their conclusion is that it should be an EV (or a range-extending plug-in hybrid at least), because we're now told that there are more London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) TXs on our capital's streets than there are old diesel-powered TX4s. 

Yep, the modern-day TX now reps more than 40 per cent of all the circa 15,000 black cabs in London (a larger chunk than any model of diesel black cab), and LEVC boasts that its hybrid electric tech has saved the city from 162,000 tonnes of CO2 being released into the atmosphere since its launch back in 2017.

Unlike the shaky old cabs of yore, the TX is quite a fancy thing too. Quiet, spacious, with better accessibility for a wider range of the population - accommodating a forward-facing wheelchair user if needed - the 80-mile range TX seats up to six passengers, instead of the odd five of the TX4.

LEVC is a subsidiary of parent company Geely, which also makes Volvos and Polestars. Chief of LEVC, Alex Nan says: “We are witnessing a significant tipping point in the push towards cleaner transportation, with the TX overtaking the diesel-powered TX4 as the cab of choice in London. There are now more than 6,000 TX electric taxis operating in the capital.”

Transport for London’s director of licensing and regulation, Helen Chapman, is equally enthused: “It is great to see that almost half of the entire taxi fleet is now zero emissions capable and there are now more LEVC TX taxis than any model of diesel black cabs in the capital.

“London’s taxi drivers are rightfully proud to be at the vanguard of cleaning up the city’s toxic air. The step change in the taxi fleet moving to zero emissions capability is an important part of the bold action the Mayor is taking to deal with the public health crisis that is being caused by deadly pollution, and for tackling the climate emergency.”

So come on then TG readers, you must have some fun black cab stories from over the years. Why not regale us with tales in the comments section below...