16/04/2024 – This year marks 160 years of the ‘Knowledge of London’ after its inception in 1865. To celebrate, LEVC has set out 10 surprising facts about the iconic black cab, which has long been a cornerstone of British iconography. Generations of these vehicles have graced the streets of London and major cities around the UK. Instantly recognisable and steeped in history, the black cab is much more than just a means of transport — it’s a symbol of British culture.
But what truly sets it apart? LEVC has set out 10 fascinating and little-known facts about this legendary vehicle, celebrating the craftsmanship, innovation, and quirks that make it one of the world’s most recognised vehicles.
1. Decades of strict regulation
The London Conditions of Fitness were first introduced in 1906. This unique set of rules outlined the specific characteristics that hackney carriages and private hire vehicles — as well as their drivers — must meet. Today, the LEVC TX is the world’s only purpose-built, zero-exhaust-emission capable taxi that complies with these strict requirements, which include a 25-foot turning circle, wheelchair accessibility, door aperture, vehicle dimensions and more.
These conditions are not only unique to London; licensing authorities across the UK set their own regulations for taxi and private hire, helping to ensure the highest possible standards of safety, service, and vehicle quality for customers. TX for example, is built to be less than 5m in length and less than 2m in width, ensuring it can legally and safely pass through a narrow 6 foot 6 / 2 metre road restriction in any urban environment.
Plus, drivers and passengers can rely on its 8.45m wall to wall turning circle to navigate tight spaces. Legend has it the turning circle requirement came at the request of the Savoy Hotel, to help drivers navigate their unique roundabout entrance.
2. The ‘black cab’ isn’t always black
This British Icon is much more colourful than the name would suggest. In fact, the colour of a hackney carriage is determined by each local licensing authority in the UK. In London, there is no specific condition that states a black cab has to be the colour black and some drivers opt for alternatives, like white, to support weddings and events. Additionally, cities outside of London have their own unique colour for hackney carriages, like Bristol, which stipulates ‘black cabs’ have to be Blue.
3. Electric beginnings
The first motorised taxis to hit London’s roads in 1897 were, in fact, electric. The Bersey Electric Cab had a top speed of 12mph and a battery range of around 50 miles. Nicknamed ‘hummingbirds’ for their distinctive sound and yellow-and-black livery, they paved the way for modern innovations like the LEVC TX, which today offers a WLTP pure electric range of up to 78 miles and a total extended-range of 333 miles. To date, the LEVC TX has helped prevent an estimated 300,000,000kg of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.
4. Aerospace engineering
Unlike van conversions, which are mostly built from conventional steel, LEVC’s TX utilises an anodised aluminium monocoque. This high-tech structure weighs just 370kg, combining high torsional rigidity with lightweight construction. It is around 30% lighter than an equivalent steel structure which delivers a crucial weight saving over a conventional steel body and frame. LEVC’s bonded aluminium structure can absorb twice the crash energy of mild steel and all 400+ individual components are anodised to further increase corrosion resistance.
5. World-class drivers
London black cab drivers pride themselves on passing the ‘Knowledge of London’ — memorising 25,000 streets, 20,000 landmarks and 320 routes within a six-mile radius of Charing Cross. It can take up to four years to complete and is similar to undertaking a university degree or high-level academic course. Studies by University College London have shown that mastering The Knowledge can physically reshape the brain’s hippocampus even potentially lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s.
6. Built in Britain
LEVC is proud to produce the iconic black cab in the West Midlands at its state-of-the-art facility in Ansty Coventry. This 37,000m2 facility was opened on the 22nd March 2017 and was the first dedicated electric vehicle production site in the UK. This was all made possible thanks to investment from parent company, Geely Holding Group, which became a majority shareholder in the business in 2013 and has to date, invested around £1 billion into the LEVC business.
7. Accessibility at its core
LEVC’s TX and the company’s previous versions of the iconic black cab have always offered unrivalled levels of purpose-built accessibility. In addition to a wheel chair ramp and harness, the black cab features a deployable swivel chair, braille switches, high-vis accents and handles, a hearing loop and a full intercom system.
8. The origins of Hackney carriages
The term ‘hackney’, as used in hackney coaches and cabs comes from the Norman French word “hacquenée”, meaning a horse for hire. Hackney coaches first appeared in London in Tudor times, when wealthy people who owned coaches hired them out to recoup some of the high cost of keeping them.
9. Setting the standard across the UK
The black cab is the benchmark for hackney carriages in the UK as it’s the only purpose-built solution that meets the requirements of around 300 different licensing authorities across the nation. Many converted van alternatives can’t meet the stringent conditions required by some licensing authorities, including requirements like door height, width, and length. Confusingly, some councils have been known to licence vehicles even when they don’t meet their own requirements.
10. Anyone can drive and purchase a black cab
You’re just now allowed to ply for hire! In fact, some very famous people have owned a black cab over the years including HRM King Charles, Kate Moss, Stephen Fry and Arnold Schwarzenegger. There are also lots of different applications for TX outside of being a hackney carriage and recently, TX has been sold to the NHS, care homes, charities, logistics providers and even National Trust sites. All of which benefit from its purpose-built accessibility and zero-exhaust emission capability.
LEVC has played a leading role in the taxi industry for over 100 years, with the black cab now firmly cemented as one of the world’s most recognisable and iconic vehicles. Since 1908, LEVC has focused on creating vehicles that meet the evolving needs of operators and passengers, and more recently, the business has transformed to become a leader in zero-carbon mobility technology. Today, LEVC is at the forefront of automotive innovation, proudly combining its rich heritage with cutting-edge technology to shape the future of sustainable transport.