A Ride In A Dynamo Electric Taxi
I came out of Marks and Spencer on Finsbury Pavement and an unusual black taxi was sitting on the rank opposite.
So I had to take a ride.
It was a Dynamo Electric Taxi based on a Nissan e-NV200 Evalia MPV.
These are my thoughts.
The Two Major Complaints About The LEVC TX Cab From Drivers
There are two major complaints about the LEVC TX from drivers.
- It is too expensive to buy.
- The range on battery power is not far enough.
I’ve also had several conversations about hydrogen power
My Taxi Use
As I have a Freedom Pass, I only travel in taxis about twice a month. Usually this is when I’m coming home from a railway station like Euston, Liverpool Street or Kings Cross in the evening and I want to get home quickly, or I am coming home with shopping, as I was today. Only occasionally, do I use a taxi with somebody else.
I’d be interested to know, the average number of passengers in a black cab.
Dynamo Has Developed A Vehicle To Sell
I feel that Dynamo have developed a vehicle that will sell.
- The driver said that it is £20,000 cheaper than the LEVC TX.
- The web site says that the battery range is at least twice that of the LEVC TX.
- The capacity is one less than the lEVC TX, which is probably not a large disadvantage.
- The cab includes four different charging methods.
- It can even be charged from a 13-amp socket.
- It can carry one person in a wheelchair.
- Roomy enough for taller drivers.
- Dynamo claimed to have talked to the drivers. As they have addressed, their two major complaints, that seems about right.
- It has a glass roof, as does the LEV TX, which is a good feature for a cab,
- It is 100 % electric and zero carbon.
Overall, it seems to have been designed to have a low cost of ownership. Being based on a standard vehicle must help.
Would It Appeal To Drivers In Smaller Towns And Cities?
After my stroke, I used a lot of taxis to go between my house and the local bus station in Haverhill, which was a distance of about four miles.
Haverhill is a town of 27,000 people without a railway station.
- The nearest railway station at Dullingham is 10 miles away.
- Cambridge is 18 miles away.
- Bury St. Edmunds is 19 miles away.
I feel that the range could be sufficient to run a taxi service in a town like Haverhill.
So could the Dynamo taxi, bring black cabs to more areas?
Ride Quality
Ride quality was what I would expect from a modern vehicle.
Comfort And Space
Comfort was very similar to that of an LEVC TX, but there was a little bit less space. But that wouldn’t bother me.
Would I Use One Again?
I can’t see any reason not to!
I might even choose one in preference to an LEVC TX or a Mercedes Vito, as my road can sometimes be congested and a smaller vehicle might be an advantage.
Conclusion
The Dynamo Black Cab looks to be a serious alternative to the LEVC TX. Especially, as the design has addressed the two major complaints of drovers; cost and range and the vehicle is 100 % electric.
In my lifetime, there have been alternative black cabs, like the Winchester, the Mercedes Vito and the Metrocab.
I can see others joining the market.
The Anonymous Widower 