Perth Voice Interactive

Perth lord mayor Lisa Scaffidi is bringing some Britpop to Perth. Photoshop image.

London taxis are set to hit the streets of Perth.

The WA transport department confirms it is planning to trial up to 100 purpose-built cabs in the metropolitan area for four years.

The DOT is seeking expressions of interest from manufacturers until August 30.

The trial will begin as vehicles become available.

Drivers of the the five-seater taxis will be screened off from passengers, improving safety.

The Voice understands Chinese company Zhejiang Geely, which manufactures the TX4 taxi, is a frontrunner to land the tender.

Other purpose-built taxis include the Mercedes-Benz Vito and Nissan’s NV200 London Taxi.

The TX4 has wheelchair access, wi-fi connectivity, power points for phones and laptops, and a driver-passenger intercom.

The Voice understands each TX4 will cost around $60,000 to hit the road.

Veteran cabbie Stephen Satchell says the cabs will be a great asset for Perth: “The screened cockpit will be a win for both passengers and drivers, increasing safety,” he says. “I believe the cabs will have disabled access for around 80 per cent of all wheelchairs and the state government will waive the passenger ‘lifting fee’. I would love to see a hybrid or practical full-electric taxi being used.”

The Voice understands the taxis could be white, keeping them 15 to 20 per cent cooler than the traditional black.

WA taxi council CEO Olwyn Williams wants more information about the trial: “We had a taxi council meeting this week and have put together a list of questions over the details of the trial,” she says. “In general we’re in favour of it—we just want more information on the nitty-gritty.

“For instance, the turnaround time for expressions of interest from manufacturers is quite short.”

In February Zhejiang Geely acquired the London Taxi Company, which had manufactured the iconic London cab since 1948 at its factory in Coventry, England.

In October 2012 the LTC went into administration having failed to record a profit since 2007.

ZG has signed a research and development agreement with the Tanfield Group to develop an electric-powered London black cab.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK