Lotus: sviluppato il nuovo Taxi-Cab ad Idrogeno per Londra

Lotus Engineering and the city of London revealed a joint collaboration over the weekend that has been nearly two years in the marking.

The hydrogen-powered black taxi uses a Lotus Engineering hydrogen powertrain, which emits nothing but water vapor, and is capable of traveling at speeds as high as 80 mph, according to the London Evening Standard. Autocar says the Fuel Cell Black Cab will also carry a range of 250 miles, and can be recharged in just five minutes – making it a very practical alternative to gasoline or diesel powered taxicabs.

Deputy mayor Kit Malthouse said, “The black cab is a London icon but it is also a source of pollution. This prototype, which emits only water from its tailpipe, is a glimpse of how hydrogen technology could soon play a vital role in cleaning up air quality.”

Green Car Congress points out that London’s deputy mayor said in 2009 that by 2012 the city would have six hydrogen filling stations and hopes to run 20-50 hydrogen- powered taxis, as well as 150 hydrogen-powered buses.

Wired says Lotus Engineering secured part of a $45.3 million contract with Britain’s Government Technology Board in 2008 to develop a hydrogen powertrain for taxicab use.

Via Leftlanenews.com