While the taxi looks and drives like an iconic London black cab,
the Fuel Cell Black Cab is powered by an Intelligent Energy
hydrogen fuel cell system hybridised with lithium polymer
batteries; allowing the vehicle to operate for a full day
without the need for refuelling. Capable of achieving a top
speed of over 80 mph, refuels in about 5 minutes and produces no
emissions other than water vapour. Lotus Engineering has
packaged the full propulsion system including the fuel cell
engine and has designed control systems to optimise performance
of both the fuel cells and electric drive systems. TRW Conekt
led the safety analysis programme, including braking and
steering systems, and LTI has provided donor vehicles to assist
with the structural modifications to the chassis of the taxis.
DEVELOPING THE FUEL CELL TAXI The London Taxi is an iconic
vehicle, with currently over 21,000 in operation in London
alone. A fleet of diesel vehicles this size that operates for
many hours of the day inevitably makes a substantia