TRAVEL DESK 

Days away from the Mercedes Vito Taxi hitting the streets of the capital will have another big hitter vying for London's 20,000 fleet of black cabs, in the form of a Peugeot. 

The Peugeot E7 based on the 807 launched by Allied Vehicles of London is an electric powered taxi with a range of around one hundred miles and can zoom upto 60mph.

The cost is on a par with the Mercedes Vito Taxi of £30K, but the added selling point of an "all-green" cab may attract more punters around town. 

However Allied Vehicles argue on their website that "The evidence published by the PCO shows that the Peugeot E7 taxi could be up to 19% cheaper to purchase and operate than an LTI taxi (a saving of £9,354 over four years). Frontier estimates that, over a twenty-year period, this could mean savings for drivers and passengers totaling some £183 million."

Savings to the cab driver will be through long-term energy efficiency and the makers of the E7 Gavin Gillies, Managing Director of Cab Direct - British manufacturers of the Peugeot E7 black cab - commented:  

"Our case isn't about making anyone switch to an alternative taxi. We simply want London taxi firms and drivers to have the opportunity to make their own, informed decision on what vehicle best suits their business."

photo credit: Allied Vehciles