LONDON TAXI DRIVERS AND BORIS JOHNSON ARE FIRST TO TEST DRIVE ALL-NEW ZERO-EMISSIONS METROCAB

Company press release.

◾Leading London taxi associations evaluate and drive the new Metrocab for first time

◾London Mayor Boris Johnson dubs it 'a masterpiece of British engineering'

◾Production versions to be trialled in London during summer 2014

Mytchett, Surrey, UK: April 2014 – The all-new British-built and engineered Range Extended Electric (REE) Metrocab has been tested for the first time by London's taxi drivers and Mayor Boris Johnson.

Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) General Secretary Steve McNamara, and London Cab Drivers Club (LCDC) Chairman Grant Davis, visited Metrocab's Surrey testing facility with their respective members to evaluate the Metrocab from a passenger and driver perspective.

Following static observations the Metrocab was experienced first-hand on the test track and the association members were left impressed by the Metrocab's power delivery, ride quality and handling prowess. Summarised by Grant Davis 'like nothing I have ever experienced before', Steve McNamara added that its introduction 'could be a game changer.'

London Mayor Boris Johnson said: 'It's superb, an absolutely beautiful machine and a masterpiece of British engineering. I have just driven it and it's totally silent. It's the Rolls Royce of taxis and it will do 100mpg.'

Steve McNamara commented further: 'It's a smooth, quiet, electric vehicle. I'm a great fan of them and I think they are the future. Not just because of the emissions and environment but the silence. The worst thing about sitting in London traffic is sitting alongside noisy buses and diesel cars.'

Grant Davis added: 'Our members drove it today and everyone said they were impressed, amazingly impressed. I think the Metrocab gives the cab trade in London a great new future.'

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The Metrocab's REE technology delivers a range of 560km, typically saving a London taxi driver £20-£40 per day based on the average day and night duty cycle in the capital.

Metrocab Regional Operations Director Gordon Dixon concluded: 'It has been an extremely useful exercise for Metrocab to gain feedback from key figures from London's leading taxi associations and Mayor Boris Johnson. Taxi drivers spend anywhere between eight to ten hours per day behind the wheel, so these are the people that really matter and their comments will help shape our development programme which will see the first new Metrocabs take to the streets of London this summer.'

To play the video of the first Metrocab test drives and to hear comments from London's mayor and taxi drivers, visit Metrocab TV at http://bit.ly/1rJQKxR. Taxi drivers interested in registering for a trial in the new Metrocab this summer can do so by visiting www.newmetrocab.com/trial.

Metrocab key features:

◾>75mpg and over three times more fuel efficient than comparable current London taxi

◾>75% less CO2 than comparable current London taxi, <50g/km CO2

◾>560km combined range

◾Significantly lower running costs, typically saving a London cabbie £20 – 40 per day

◾Zero-emissions mode and home charging via standard mains outlet

◾Evolutionary design, sympathetic to iconic London taxi silhouette

◾>10 years in development and over a million engineering test kilometres

◾Six passenger seats (plus optional seventh passenger seat in the front)

◾Fully compliant with London Public Carriage Office (PCO) regulations

Metrocab Technical Specification:

GENERAL

◾Range extended electric vehicle

◾Fully compliant with London Public Carriage Office (PCO) regulations

◾Capable of zero emission operation

◾Vehicle health diagnostics and status telemetry system

VEHICLE DIMENSIONS

◾Overall length:................................ 4,905mm

◾Overall width:................................. 1,800mm

◾Overall height:................................ 1,925mm

◾Wheel base:..................................... 3,181mm

VEHICLE WEIGHT

◾Gross:................................................ 2,515kg

PERFORMANCE

◾Top speed:........................................ 80mph (Restricted)

◾Max gradient:................................... 1:3

◾Emissions:......................................... <50g/km CO2

◾Turning circle: ................................. 7.62m (Meets PCO requirement)

◾Regenerative braking

DRIVELINE

◾Peak motor power:........................ 2 x 50kW

◾Peak wheel torque:........................ 2 x 1,400Nm

RANGE EXTENDER

◾1 litre petrol range-extender engine coupled to generator unit

◾Fuel efficient urban and highway generating modes

◾Meets Euro 5 emission standards

BATTERY SYSTEM

◾Lithium-ion polymer large format cells

◾Stored capacity:............................... 12.2kWh

◾3kW on board charging

COMFORT

◾Driver multi-function touch screen display and instrument cluster with colour display

◾Passenger colour TV display

◾USB charging socket

◾Digital infotainment system

◾Hands free telephone

◾Air conditioning and heating

◾Anti-lock braking system (ABS)

◾3-seater rear bench seat - fore/aft adjustable for more luggage space when required

◾3 rear facing flip down seats

◾1 optional front passenger seat

◾Full wheelchair access with integrated wheelchair ramp

◾Panoramic glass roof

◾Mood Lighting

◾Air suspension

* Correct at time of going to print, subject to change