Episode 32. Jonny Smith (@carpervert) and Richard Porter (@sniffpetrol) test the new, electrically-powered, range extender black taxi in its natural habitat.
The best thing about the old TX4's was the fact they somehow managed to combine, simultaneously, the crashiest ride quality this side of an unloaded 7.5 tonne truck with catastrophic levels of body roll, even at 5mph, that would make Citroen 2CV blush! Add in a cantankerous old oil burner from Perkins of Isuzi, which would put the average cement mixer to shame in an "i can make the most noise and smoke for the least useful output" race, and to say it was time they were replaced is a shameful understatement!
No London Taxi has ever been fitted with a Perkins engine. The last TX4 were fitted with a 2.8VM Euro6 diesel the earlier TX4 had the 2.5VM engine which was Euro4 or Euro 5.
Geely is an amazing organisation. They somehow can let their subsidiary do their own thing and actually execute a product that target audience actually likes. The lack of Headquarter intervention is refreshing. MAX REGEN: Power is Massive Torque. Twist his enemies to death.
Neojhun I do genuinely think the CEO and board of directors of Geely are car enthusiasts. They seem to be able to make everything, just right, in the sense of Volvo etc
I think whether they are car enthusiasts is less relevant than that they appear to trust their subordinates/local directors to do what's needed in that sphere (because that's why they employ them) rather than being seagull management about it - fly in, shit on everything, then fly off. That is a very good thing when it comes to something like a black cab.
paul smith Discovery is one model. Makes sense to have a Factory in Europe after Brexit. The Japanese built factories in the UK many years ago, I suspect for similar reasons.
Yes absolutely I agree, but I suppose the Hackney cab is just a traditional British thing that is so London really, I think buses should be all hybrid or lecy too because they're in built up areas constantly stopping and starting, with lorries I think they should be restricted from inner city travel, most modern car's are very efficient and have start/stop, and if cars and vans are used on a commercial basis then there should be a age limit and strict maintenance.
You probably dont give a shit but if you guys are bored like me atm you can stream all the latest movies and series on instaflixxer. Have been binge watching with my girlfriend for the last weeks =)
Just found your channel, slightly disconcerting actually looking at Mr Porter after so many years of his work on said TV and paper literature. Although saying that I find him quiet engaging. Keep it up chaps 👍
Absolutely love this :) #Geely are amazing - Volvo have trucks but no vans - the LEVC van will be a game changer and make the new London cab more financially viable especially if they get the Royal Mail or BT or AA contract or all - so glad we haven't gone for that awful Nissan that New York went for - this is a true icon designed London Cab for the 21st century - lot of love for the #LEVC - can see them making an SUV too
i drive a black combo van around london at night(on call service engineer), i have to keep the doors locked, because people(usually half cut) continually try and get in while i'm parked up....
Private ambulance jets do exist. My Uncle got ran over in Hawaii and was moved back home to Vancouver in one to continue rehabilitation in his local hospital.
Cool, free wifi whenever LM67 PEO drives by :D. Let's make entering a TAXI confusing by making the two doorknobs look like one :D. They didn't think that through but other than that, it does look good. I also look how the interior looks typically 90's cheap working car with the grey and the ugly speaker :D. And a panoramic roof, lovely! Ha, the buses can even get up onto Highgate hill. Noisly. I do like how I can see the road in the divider screen plexiglass (presumably). A front mounted camera would add a little to these videos. Or maybe go 360 so everyone can look around with you when you go 'oh that's a nice Datsun!'. Rear wheel drive, so it's got a ridiculously small turning circle again? When will these be on the road? I do like what they'v emade. Just looking at you sitting there looking behind you all the time, Jonny, makes me nauseous. It seems horrible. The fact that you didn't also proves that Richard is a smooth driver. At least in this cab :D.
Good! I'll make sure to check them out. I don't live in the UK (unfortunately, for the most part :D) so I can't travel to london without some planning ;).
Jonny @carpervert I know its not the normal question but i looking for a "new" car for my Grandmother, she will be having to use a wheelchair so will have to get a adapted car or van, then though that the London taxis have to be accessible. so do you think it would make a good wheelchair accessible vehicle. thanks
COMMODORE?! You never see ANY Commodore cabs because they can’t handle the abuse. Ford Falcon is the cabbie’s choice down under. 4.0L straight six on LPG 😎
Rode in a Camry hybrid taxi just last night; nearly half a million km, yet still felt taut and quite. The owner driver said he carries an OBD dongle to reset codes thown by an old battery pack. Beats a Falcon with floppy, clunking suspension and whining diff.
I have worked on Melbourne cabs. The problem with Holdens was/is that the interior panels that you need to remove to run cabling are really basic. Take them off once and you may break them. Fords were much better. The fords are much better to work on.
Nice update to a London icon...too bad the battery is not double the size and there is an ICE in it. I mean, it's better, but totally possible to get rid of the petrol all together.
Dave Johnson You have no understanding of which "Private Ambulance" they are talking about. The one they are talking about is Black with subtle writing on the stating it is a "Private Ambulance" and they are used only for moving the deceased. This is not the same as an Patient Transport Ambulance operated by a Private Company.
The old diesel engine was italian, made by VM Motori (a branch of Detroit Diesel). It was basically an agricultural engine with appalling performance and economy.
You absolutely cannot drive in bus lanes. It has to be a licensed taxi with a licensed taxi driver at the wheel. Noel Edmunds thought he could do that and found out to his cost that he was wrong.
I don’t know what the LEVC guy told him that he can use bus lanes, only bona fide black cab drivers are, there are identifiers in your back and front windows that are related to your badge number any old bill sees you don’t have them your nicked….
5th Gear recently declined an offer from a concerned licenced taxi driver in a proposed filming of a LEVC vehicle test, to do an EMF emission audit on this cab. Bearing in mind that you have pointed out that the driver will be sitting on the battery and in close proximity to the high voltage conductors throughout his shift, Any plans in the near future to test this vehicle to determine real time EMF levels during a typical shift. Swiss government sponsored long term study on train drivers suggest that health effects can not be ruled out.
We've been living amongst high energy electrical systems for decades, I'm sure if train drivers were regularly dropping dead we might of noticed by now. However what's certain is combustion emissions do kill people.
Here is the study sponsored by the Swiss government and there are no dramatic dead bodies that you seem to need to get on board. The Swiss train drivers were selected as a study group apparently because they were perceived as dedicated "job for life" professionals, this would allow epidemiologists to follow up on the study group. I doubt that there is any parallel to date as to the proximity, duration and the probable emf fields that LEVC drivers will be facing during the course of their lifelong occupational activities. (possibly many similarities to the Swiss train drivers professionalism) As you suggest that fossil fuels kill 40,000 people every year, the sacrifice of the few for the benefit of the many might be justified. Determining the EMF levels and publishing the results might help allay any reservations, and could help individuals choose whether to pursue this occupation. www.reuters.com/article/us-railway-cancer-idUSHO97905220070529
"Holloway road please sir”; Surely you mean Holloway boulevard? ua-cam.com/video/n95P8p4qz1U/v-deo.html 😀 Saw one of these cabs on my patch in Holloway a few days ago, wonder if that was you? Should have stopped off for a quick pie and mash at Piebury Corner.
you are not aloud in the bus lane, the cab is well over price, 70 miles on electric is not good enough, the cab driver is only getting 45 miles out of electric, I am a cab driver and would like to say I had the tx4 and it is piece of rubbish cheaply made and really uncomfortable and the txe is just the same overpriced piece of shit. get a merc
I disagree completely. Having seen some of these on the road I don't think they are "Bang on", I think they look like a dreadful pastiche of a taxi. Watched one drive past the houses of parliament and it just looked wrong.
Hmmm what is the range... i spoke to a london cabby... 80 miles range at best in summer... tell me what it is on a wet..dark cold winter day... so lights on heaters on windsceen wipers on.... stop this EV stupidity
The best thing about the old TX4's was the fact they somehow managed to combine, simultaneously, the crashiest ride quality this side of an unloaded 7.5 tonne truck with catastrophic levels of body roll, even at 5mph, that would make Citroen 2CV blush! Add in a cantankerous old oil burner from Perkins of Isuzi, which would put the average cement mixer to shame in an "i can make the most noise and smoke for the least useful output" race, and to say it was time they were replaced is a shameful understatement!
clearly you are unfamiliar with euro6 tx4 !!
No London Taxi has ever been fitted with a Perkins engine.
The last TX4 were fitted with a 2.8VM Euro6 diesel the earlier TX4 had the 2.5VM engine which was Euro4 or Euro 5.
Geely is an amazing organisation. They somehow can let their subsidiary do their own thing and actually execute a product that target audience actually likes. The lack of Headquarter intervention is refreshing.
MAX REGEN: Power is Massive Torque. Twist his enemies to death.
Neojhun I do genuinely think the CEO and board of directors of Geely are car enthusiasts. They seem to be able to make everything, just right, in the sense of Volvo etc
I think whether they are car enthusiasts is less relevant than that they appear to trust their subordinates/local directors to do what's needed in that sphere (because that's why they employ them) rather than being seagull management about it - fly in, shit on everything, then fly off.
That is a very good thing when it comes to something like a black cab.
Not unlike Tata.
Who have properly funded JLR and allowed them to produce their own engines and develop Hybrid and All Electric vehicles.
random thoughts - but for how long? All Discovery production is moving to Slovakia. India or China next?
paul smith Discovery is one model. Makes sense to have a Factory in Europe after Brexit.
The Japanese built factories in the UK many years ago, I suspect for similar reasons.
I love these new cabs, great design by LEVC / Geely / Volvo. Great video as always guys, thanks
About bloody time those fithy diesel hackney cabs were replaced by lecy ones 😎
All the old dirty diesel cabs in London should be banned immedietly!
Yes absolutely I agree, but I suppose the Hackney cab is just a traditional British thing that is so London really, I think buses should be all hybrid or lecy too because they're in built up areas constantly stopping and starting, with lorries I think they should be restricted from inner city travel, most modern car's are very efficient and have start/stop, and if cars and vans are used on a commercial basis then there should be a age limit and strict maintenance.
Chris Bury no trucks mean no businesses in inner city. Who delivers to all the shops? Or do you want those closed as well.
Worst Fake Taxi episode yet, I still managed to eke one out though
lol
Ha! Genius :-)
You probably dont give a shit but if you guys are bored like me atm you can stream all the latest movies and series on instaflixxer. Have been binge watching with my girlfriend for the last weeks =)
@Jamal Shepherd definitely, have been using instaflixxer for months myself :)
Richard totally in mode....translates every other sentence into "cabbie speak"....noice mate
There was an LEVC van at work last week. Instantly recognised it. I looked good.
I saw one of these on the mean streets of Twickenham London a few days ago ... they look good and have that classic "London Taxi look"
The interior of that new Rolls Royce Cullinan is a bit more basic than I expected it would be.
7:57 Intrigued bus child.
Just seen yet another one on the back of a pick up truck ...great advert for this vehicle
More great content. But it did lack suspect views on foreign people and brexit. A++ would watch again.
"I 'ad 'im in the back of my cab once, his face was pixilated but you could tell it was 'im."
Haha
Max Recharge to the rescue.
Just found your channel, slightly disconcerting actually looking at Mr Porter after so many years of his work on said TV and paper literature.
Although saying that I find him quiet engaging.
Keep it up chaps 👍
Great editing, fab chat and we will try the TX’e’ out on our next London trip. Ps: get a 2nd radio mic for Richard, terrible sound for his chat.
Absolutely love this :) #Geely are amazing - Volvo have trucks but no vans - the LEVC van will be a game changer and make the new London cab more financially viable especially if they get the Royal Mail or BT or AA contract or all - so glad we haven't gone for that awful Nissan that New York went for - this is a true icon designed London Cab for the 21st century - lot of love for the #LEVC - can see them making an SUV too
i drive a black combo van around london at night(on call service engineer), i have to keep the doors locked, because people(usually half cut) continually try and get in while i'm parked up....
Oooh, the new Cullinan
Private ambulance jets do exist. My Uncle got ran over in Hawaii and was moved back home to Vancouver in one to continue rehabilitation in his local hospital.
This is one Brit car I would buy if I had the opportunity.
Cool, free wifi whenever LM67 PEO drives by :D.
Let's make entering a TAXI confusing by making the two doorknobs look like one :D.
They didn't think that through but other than that, it does look good. I also look how the interior looks typically 90's cheap working car with the grey and the ugly speaker :D. And a panoramic roof, lovely!
Ha, the buses can even get up onto Highgate hill. Noisly.
I do like how I can see the road in the divider screen plexiglass (presumably).
A front mounted camera would add a little to these videos. Or maybe go 360 so everyone can look around with you when you go 'oh that's a nice Datsun!'.
Rear wheel drive, so it's got a ridiculously small turning circle again?
When will these be on the road? I do like what they'v emade.
Just looking at you sitting there looking behind you all the time, Jonny, makes me nauseous.
It seems horrible. The fact that you didn't also proves that Richard is a smooth driver. At least in this cab :D.
More vids in this car coming, including the turning circle experiment
@@TheLateBrakeShow definitely looking forward to them!
They have been on the road for several months now.
Good! I'll make sure to check them out. I don't live in the UK (unfortunately, for the most part :D) so I can't travel to london without some planning ;).
Jonny @carpervert I know its not the normal question but i looking for a "new" car for my Grandmother, she will be having to use a wheelchair so will have to get a adapted car or van, then though that the London taxis have to be accessible. so do you think it would make a good wheelchair accessible vehicle. thanks
That wee girl at 8:00 is intrigued by the LEVC taxi
This could easily have lasted a full hour, I'm sure. Twenty two minutes just wasn't long enough. When's the Director's Cut being released?
I can't watch this without think of Fake Taxi
COMMODORE?!
You never see ANY Commodore cabs because they can’t handle the abuse.
Ford Falcon is the cabbie’s choice down under. 4.0L straight six on LPG 😎
Good info Brent. One day I shall make it over there. Maybe for a S&S special?
CARPERVERT would love to see that mate.
Rode in a Camry hybrid taxi just last night; nearly half a million km, yet still felt taut and quite. The owner driver said he carries an OBD dongle to reset codes thown by an old battery pack. Beats a Falcon with floppy, clunking suspension and whining diff.
@@jonathanrabbitt I've heard the same. Camry Hybrid is almost unkillable. I would love to get the data on how the old battery pack is holding up.
I have worked on Melbourne cabs. The problem with Holdens was/is that the interior panels that you need to remove to run cabling are really basic. Take them off once and you may break them. Fords were much better. The fords are much better to work on.
Nice update to a London icon...too bad the battery is not double the size and there is an ICE in it. I mean, it's better, but totally possible to get rid of the petrol all together.
Does it have the range for a full shift?
What do they cost and how many are they capable of selling/making? I can see these being popular taxis outside London too.
We have them in Glasgow too
I spy a Seiko 5. Nice choice.
Ooo Fully Charged Robert will be jealous.. Isn't the TXE a trim level used in the past by Renault? Why not call it TXi?
i'm sure fully charged did a feature on these a few months ago.. i guess txE for electric
Yes I remember that as well. Roomy and looks easy to clean out with a hose after someone has left their stomach contents in there.
i love and want one of these
Private ambulances are used a lot by the NHS for transferring patients between hospitals and to nursing homes etc.
Dave Johnson You have no understanding of which "Private Ambulance" they are talking about.
The one they are talking about is Black with subtle writing on the stating it is a "Private Ambulance" and they are used only for moving the deceased.
This is not the same as an Patient Transport Ambulance operated by a Private Company.
But will it go ‘sarf of the River?
Been busy?
do you south of the river?
I wish we could have seen the headlights they look a bit mad and when the hazards are on they look possessed
The old diesel engine was italian, made by VM Motori (a branch of Detroit Diesel). It was basically an agricultural engine with appalling performance and economy.
Dario Varisco my tx1 was a Nissan 2.7 cabstar engine. Not powerful, but it went on for ever....
I..I've not eaten m'crisps..
How much is it? More practical than a BMW i3 REX
Martin Woods our taxi company has just bought one, £65,000 to you pal!
You absolutely cannot drive in bus lanes. It has to be a licensed taxi with a licensed taxi driver at the wheel.
Noel Edmunds thought he could do that and found out to his cost that he was wrong.
Fiat Multipla episode?????
I must say, i rather like it too.
I don’t know what the LEVC guy told him that he can use bus lanes, only bona fide black cab drivers are, there are identifiers in your back and front windows that are related to your badge number any old bill sees you don’t have them your nicked….
Lovely piece, but can I say, not really enough exterior or drive by shots.
If we get a sponsor on board for Smith & Sniff the production quality and detail will rise sir!
I wish we could have seen the headlights they look a bit mad and when they have the hazards on they look possessed
5th Gear recently declined an offer from a concerned licenced taxi driver in a proposed filming of a LEVC vehicle test, to do an EMF emission audit on this cab.
Bearing in mind that you have pointed out that the driver will be sitting on the battery and in close proximity to the high voltage conductors throughout his shift, Any plans in the near future to test this vehicle to determine real time EMF levels during a typical shift. Swiss government sponsored long term study on train drivers suggest that health effects can not be ruled out.
We've been living amongst high energy electrical systems for decades, I'm sure if train drivers were regularly dropping dead we might of noticed by now.
However what's certain is combustion emissions do kill people.
Here is the study sponsored by the Swiss government and there are no dramatic dead bodies that you seem to need to get on board. The Swiss train drivers were selected as a study group apparently because they were perceived as dedicated "job for life" professionals, this would allow epidemiologists to follow up on the study group.
I doubt that there is any parallel to date as to the proximity, duration and the probable emf fields that LEVC drivers will be facing during the course of their lifelong occupational activities. (possibly many similarities to the Swiss train drivers professionalism)
As you suggest that fossil fuels kill 40,000 people every year, the sacrifice of the few for the benefit of the many might be justified.
Determining the EMF levels and publishing the results might help allay any reservations, and could help individuals choose whether to pursue this occupation.
www.reuters.com/article/us-railway-cancer-idUSHO97905220070529
That's aluminium or, for our American friends, aluminium. (they really need to learn)
"Holloway road please sir”; Surely you mean Holloway boulevard? ua-cam.com/video/n95P8p4qz1U/v-deo.html 😀 Saw one of these cabs on my patch in Holloway a few days ago, wonder if that was you? Should have stopped off for a quick pie and mash at Piebury Corner.
😂
Worst Fake Taxi episode ever.
you are not aloud in the bus lane, the cab is well over price, 70 miles on electric is not good enough, the cab driver is only getting 45 miles out of electric, I am a cab driver and would like to say I had the tx4 and it is piece of rubbish cheaply made and really uncomfortable and the txe is just the same overpriced piece of shit. get a merc
I disagree completely. Having seen some of these on the road I don't think they are "Bang on", I think they look like a dreadful pastiche of a taxi. Watched one drive past the houses of parliament and it just looked wrong.
Hmmm what is the range... i spoke to a london cabby... 80 miles range at best in summer... tell me what it is on a wet..dark cold winter day... so lights on heaters on windsceen wipers on.... stop this EV stupidity
What a boring show!!!
The sound is isn't working right.
I’m loving the liberal sprinklings of the word “cack”.