The Chinese car manufacturer Geely, who co-own the company which produces London’s black cabs has met UK government officials to discuss the possibility of bringing electric-powered taxis to the UK, FT.com report.
“One of our ideas is to convert London taxis [to electric cars],” Li Shufu, the company’s chairman, told the Financial Times in an interview. “We are doing research on this project.”
Mr Li also told the publication that he previously discussed the idea with London Major, Boris Johnson during the Beijing Olympics.
Geely owns 23 per cent of Manganese Bronze, the UK manufacturer of London’s distinctive black cabs. Earlier this year, Manganese Bronze signed a research and development agreement with Tanfield Electric Vehicles to develop all-electric plug-in taxis.
Geely are looking to develop their own range of electric and hybrid vehicles and will begin to produce the London taxis in China later this year. Research and development of electric taxis is already underway in Shanghai.
