London’s cab drivers are renowned for their worldly wise views on everything from politics to sports - but now their hot topic is the environment with their famous black cabs about to turn green.

Don’t worry, it’s not a coat of paint for the iconic vehicles - instead Coventry-based manufacturer Manganese Bronze is working on an electric version of the TX4 cab. It is hoped that a plug-in version of the taxi will be released by the middle of 2009.

With one charge of a lithium-ion battery the cabs will be able to run for 100 miles. On average the typical cab driver travels between 120 and 150 miles a day so two charges will be enough to power the cabs for a full day’s work.

There are a number of benefits too. Not only will the new green cabs drastically reduce emissions in the London area, but they will save money for the cab companies. At current electricity prices the green taxi will cost around 4p a mile to run. By contrast, a weekly spend on diesel for a cab is between £70 and £80 - averaging between 8.5p and 9.3p a mile.

Of course there is a downside as the vehicles will be expensive at first due to the electric engine. Currently a black cab costs between £30,000 and £43,000 depending on its specification - Manganese Bronze has yet to state how much it expects the green cabs to cost.

If the venture receives the backing of taxi drivers and proves successful, then it is expected that a similar scheme could be carried over to China where Manganese has a joint venture with Shanghai LTI.

So what do you think of the green cab scheme? Is it too expensive? Or are the rewards worth the outlay? Let us know.

 Black cabs may be iconic in the United Kingdom, but in the city of Worcester they’re old news - because green cabs are all the rage.

Cab firm Go-Go Eco has become the city’s first operator to use twin-engine hybrid vehicles, casting conventional cabs aside in favour of these environmentally friendly alternatives.

The Toyota Prius vehicles adopted by the cab firm emit no fumes when travelling at low speeds and so are perfect for inner-city driving. Instead they run on a rechargeable electric motor when waiting in traffic only to switch to a normal petrol engine for higher speeds.

In terms of driving experience, the cabbies and the passengers should notice no difference but with far lower fuel consumption and less emissions both the environment and the company’s finances should benefit.

Despite the obvious advantages, company owner Jon Higgins faced a battle when bringing these green cars into the city. Regulation in Worcester states that all private hire vehicles must have a minimum engine capacity of 1600cc - yet the Toyota Prius fell short with a 1500cc engine.

However, the Council was quick to change its regulation in order to encourage the use of hybrid cars in the area.

“I welcome this,” commented Deputy Mayor Lucy Hodgson. “I think it’s really good for the city and it’s something we should be shouting about from the rooftops.”

There were fears that with the cabs being so quiet there could be an increase in accidents. However, Mr Higgins insisted this would not be a problem as they can still be heard. Instead it will just be a boost for residential areas to enjoy quieter streets at night.

What do you think of this scheme in Worcester? Would you like to see cab firms go green in your area? Leave a comment and let us know your thoughts.