Europe’s most recognizable taxi vehicles drag-racing each other may be a bit pointless, but it’s nevertheless interesting to watch, mostly because we’re interested to see how does the new, range-extended electric London Black Cab compare against the other two.
Of course picking the Toyota Prius and the Ford Galaxy as the TX eCity’s rivals wasn’t random, as the former is one of the most popular choices for Uber drivers and the latter is a favorite of UK’s Minicab firms.
The new TX is powered from an electric motor with 147hp and 188lb-ft of torque. A 31kWh lithium-ion battery pack provides the necessary energy for the electric motor to do its work, but when that energy is depleted, a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder petrol unit kick in to recharge it, acting as a range extender.
It’s only natural to see the new TX eCity sharing features with the latest Volvo models, including the infotainment system and digital instrument cluster, since the London EV Company (LEVC) is owned by Geely, the Chinese company which also owns the Swedish car maker.
LEVC claims that their new Black Cab is capable of a 0-62mph (100km/h) sprint in 13.2 seconds, while the top speed is electronically limited to 80mph (128km/h). The all-electric range is rated at 80 miles (128km/h), but with the petrol engine onboard, the new TX eCity can travel up to 400 miles (643km).
So, who wins this, admittedly very unusual, drag race? Watch Carwow’s video and find out.