June 2008

E-Mail This Article Printer-Friendly Version

British fuel cell developer Intelligent Energy is teaming up with one of the biggest names in high-performance cars, Lotus Engineering Ltd., in converting a fleet of London’s famously stodgy-looking black cabs to fuel cell power for the 2012 London Olympics. Lead partner Intelligent Energy, based in Loughborough in the Midlands, will design the hybrid 25 kW hydrogen PEM fuel cell and battery power train for the cabs while Lotus will package the components, build control systems and will test various aspects of the finished product. A third company, TRW Conekt based in Solihull also in the Midlands southeast of Birmingham, will lead the safety analysis program. London Taxis International, (LTI), the manufacturer of the taxi since 1948, will provide somewhere between 50 and 100 vehicles for the program. The project is funded by the UK government’s Technology Strategy Board as one of a £23 million ($45.5 million) package for 16 innovative low-carbon vehicle development programs. Intelligent Energy has been in the news quite a bit recently with its fuel cells that power two airplane projects and with plans to partner with Suzuki on an electric motorcycle (H&FCL April 07, May 08).