Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell (DEFC) London Taxi

66c68e01-9db5-4f8d-81fe-f9cff35712b9

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Innovate UK
Innovate UK
Innovate UK
Innovate UK
Innovate UK

£305,860

Nov. 1, 2018

Oct. 31, 2019

"The London Black Cab is under attack as a major contributor to the city's poor air quality and per capita, global CO2 production. The London Assembly has determined the fleet must be replaced by electric vehicles starting immediately. However, keeping this icon on London's roads is a popular and reasonable expectation for Londoners.

There are more than 25,000 Black Taxis in London with the vast majority burning diesel, producing high levels of greenhouse gasses and, of immediate concern, carbon particulates. The industry is generally sceptical of battery powered vehicles because of a lack of charge points, high cost of battery depletion and the replacement and operational difficulties identified by drivers. A cheap accessible fuel and drive system, delivering zero emissions is required.

The DEFC powered Taxi most closely meets the immediate needs of the owner operator of Taxis. The technology can also be installed into commercial vehicles, buses and cars.

The fuel is ethanol, which can be produced by a variety of non-polluting feed stocks including organic household waste. This renewable, carbon neutral biofuel will power electricity-generating fuel cells which do not depend on charging stations, only refueling stations, which can be installed on existing petroleum forecourts.

We intend that the initial vehicles are to be recycled London Taxis, giving old technology new life and providing owners with assets operating at a lower cost per mile by reduced leasing, rental fees and fuel costs. This will be extended to other fleets across the UK.

The technique of recycling existing vehicles will greatly improve adoption of new pollution free technology while providing a platform for local production of both transport and fuel.

London taxi company Frankum & Kaye will work with FairAir to achieve these goals and have agreed to support recycling of redundant existing vehicles into the World's first remanufactured taxis running on waste reformed fuel. They will also help to influence other fleet owners in the UK to switch to DEFC powered taxis. Following a successful implementation, FairAir will shift their focus onto providing systems for buses, commercial vehicles and cars."