LEVC CELEBRATES PRODUCTION MILESTONE AT COVENTRY FACTORY

The London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) hit a key milestone at its manufacturing plant in Ansty, Coventry in March with the production of its 10,000th vehicle.

Since delivering the first TX electric taxi to London in 2018, the factory has built and sold cars to more than 20 countries, with markets in Paris, Madrid, Cairo, and Tokyo. Last year saw the sale of 2,508 TX vehicles, marking the company’s strongest output to date.

The electric model recently overtook the diesel-powered TX4 to become the most common black cab operating in London, at more than 40 per cent of the total fleet. In total, these vehicles are estimated to have prevented the emission of 162,000 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere.

LEVC recently announced that it would be growing beyond the TX to become a leading zero-carbon mobility technology company.

CEO Alex Nan said: “This year will see LEVC hit many milestones. As well as producing our 10,000th vehicle, we will celebrate 10 years of being part of the Geely Holding Group family.

“The last decade has seen significant change for the business – including a new manufacturing facility, a complete rebrand and the launch of both the TX electric taxi, and the VN5 van.

Midlands developer the Deeley Group has secured permission for a £7.5 million manufacturing and distribution facility in Buckingham.

Buckinghamshire County Council granted permission for a 40,000 sq ft industrial and warehouse unit on Buckinghamshire Industrial Estate named Cygnet 40.

Work is scheduled to begin next month ahead of an expected completion in spring next year. Coventry-based Deeley Group is currently seeking a potential tenant or occupier for the site. Ziran Land is a joint venture partner on the development with the Deeley Group.

Expected to be fully operational later this year, the peaking power plant –which will be operated and maintained by Centrica, will run only when there is high or peak demand for electricity, or when generation from renewables is low. The Redditch project will have the capacity to power the equivalent of 2,000 homes for a full day when required, helping to maintain stability and reliability on the grid.

The engines will also be capable of burning a blend of natural gas and hydrogen, which will help the UK transition towards a decarbonised energy system.

The Redditch peaking plant is part of Centrica’s plans to deliver around 1GW of flexible energy assets, that includes the redevelopment of several legacyowned power stations, including the transformation of the former Brigg Power Station in Lincolnshire into a battery storage asset and the first plant in the UK to be part fuelled by hydrogen.

The business also has a focus on renewable energy assets, the most recent of which is the Codford solar farm, an 18MW array in Wiltshire which once complete will be capable of powering 4,850 homes.