RETROFIT SUCCESS: Glasgow taxi drivers celebrate FIRST TX4 Euro 6 black cab
Glasgow taxi drivers celebrated the city’s first TX4 Euro 6 black cab after a long-awaited RETROFIT is completed.
More black cabs are expected to be converted soon as kits now become readily available to cabbies.
Aside from buying a new Zero-Emission Capable (ZEC) taxi, retrofitting existing cabs to meet Euro 6 compliance standards is seen as one way to eliminate daily charges and future proofing a driver’s taxi.
A Unite Glasgow Cab Section spokesperson said: “It’s been a long time coming, but the retrofit for Euro 5 TX4’s, taking them to Euro 6 specifications, has finally arrived.
“Today saw the first TX4 cab in the UK being retrofitted right here in Glasgow, at P&C Taxis.
“The conversion sees modification of the DPF along with the addition of an adblue tank. The vehicles continue to be fueled by diesel.
“The Glasgow Cab Section has now been responsible for securing retrofit solutions for TX4’s, Vito’s, and E7’s.
“Many hundreds of cabs regretfully still can’t be retrofitted however, which will undoubtedly cause an unprecedented shortage of taxis next year, as they are forced off the road by Glasgow’s idealistic LEZ.”
The conversion is available for Euro 5 Mercedes Vito, Peugeot E7 taxis and the LTi TX4. The price of the conversation is around £5,000 plus VAT. Some cities implementing Clean Air Zones are still offering grants available through local government, meaning the cost of the conversion can be considerably slashed.
The accreditation required to become exempt from emission zone fees within the LEZ or CAZ is known as Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS) and is administered by the Energy Saving Trust.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
On a standard Euro 5 compliant taxi, exhaust gas from the turbocharger passes directly into the combined catalytic converter and diesel particulate filter and from there through the silencer to the tailpipe.
On a retrofitted Euro 6 compliant cab, a new Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system is installed into the exhaust system further downstream. This incorporates a thermo-electric element which helps to bring the exhaust to an ideal temperature to encourage efficient catalytic conversion. Together with the introduction of AdBlue, which is a diesel exhaust fluid, the SCR system reduces NOx down to levels that exceed the requirements of Euro 6.
SCR is beneficial because it reduces NOx by up to 90% and is one of the most cost-effective and fuel-efficient technologies available.
The retrofit system also comes with a full 2-year warranty and local installation options are being rolled out continuously.
