MG EV - Another MGZS EV Taxi

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Sat 5 Oct 2024 17:50
MG EV - Another MGZS EV Taxi - Orb>>.

I spotted our local taxi driver with an MG Zs EV as his latest taxi.

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Sat 5 Oct 2024 21:11
MG EV - Another MGZS EV Taxi - mcb100
I’ve had to use a few taxis recently, and have been amazed to see diesel manuals being used.
In and around a major city, in a manual, why would you?
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Sun 6 Oct 2024 09:52
MG EV - Another MGZS EV Taxi - ElHombre

If one's preference is for a manual, why not?

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Sun 6 Oct 2024 09:57
MG EV - Another MGZS EV Taxi - pd

I guess each to their own but I agree if I was spending all day driving I can't think why I'd choose a manual unless I wanted to test out the NHS knee replacement service when older.

I enjoy a manual car sometimes, usually for about half a mile then I quickly remember why I'd no longer want one as my regular car!

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Sun 6 Oct 2024 15:45
MG EV - Another MGZS EV Taxi - Andrew-T

.... if I was spending all day driving I can't think why I'd choose a manual unless I wanted to test out the NHS knee replacement service when older.

I have been driving manuals for 60+ years, quite a few of them diesels (beefier clutches?) and have no need yet for any knee surgery. I have had an ankle replaced, but that was nothing to do with driving (and was on the accelerator foot anyway) :-)

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Sun 6 Oct 2024 12:05
MG EV - Another MGZS EV Taxi - galileo
I’ve had to use a few taxis recently, and have been amazed to see diesel manuals being used. In and around a major city, in a manual, why would you?

Not all cab drivers can afford to swap to electric, especially if they live where home charging isn't possible.

Another point is they may be asked to do a long run, unless topped up frequently customers won't want to wait if you haven't enough range for the trip.

Edited by galileo on 06/10/2024 at 12:09

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Sun 6 Oct 2024 16:32
MG EV - Another MGZS EV Taxi - Steveieb

One local taxi driver told me that the only way to make a living as a taxi driver around town is to drive a Prius.

Very economical, rarely go wrong even when used around the clock. Good repair facility and availability of used spares including batteries. There is even a battery repair service solely for Toyota/ Lexus cars with warranties lasting 12 or 24 months

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Sun 6 Oct 2024 17:08
MG EV - Another MGZS EV Taxi - gordonbennet

One local taxi driver told me that the only way to make a living as a taxi driver around town is to drive a Prius.

Very economical, rarely go wrong even when used around the clock. Good repair facility and availability of used spares including batteries. There is even a battery repair service solely for Toyota/ Lexus cars with warranties lasting 12 or 24 months

That's handy to know, they have had such refurb services in the USA for some time, several years ago i watched a chap via youtube fit a complete exchange rebuilt battery pack in a series 2 Prius, as one would expect with Toyota quite a straightforward job that any competent home mechanic could complete.

There was a UK based chap rebuilding Honda hybrid batteries but wasn't aware of any similar Toyota specialists in the UK, would you have any details for future reference please?

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Sun 6 Oct 2024 17:55
MG EV - Another MGZS EV Taxi - davecooper

Yes, Prius taxis seem to be ubiquitous now. In fact, so much so that it seems strange seeing a prius that doesn't have licence plates on. Plenty of Corolla hybrids as well.

Edited by davecooper on 06/10/2024 at 18:06

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Sun 6 Oct 2024 18:55
MG EV - Another MGZS EV Taxi - SLO76
I’ve had to use a few taxis recently, and have been amazed to see diesel manuals being used. In and around a major city, in a manual, why would you?

Taxi owners test cars to destruction, they don’t change every couple of years, they run them until they’re too old to be licences in their area or they run them til they drop. The taxi trade know only too well what goes wrong with cars and what to avoid, thus their general dislike of modern twin clutch autos such as VW’s DSG box, or Fords Powershift thus the preference for manual versions. They’re less likely to go wrong.
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Sun 6 Oct 2024 18:48
MG EV - Another MGZS EV Taxi - mcb100
‘Not all cab drivers can afford to swap to electric, especially if they live where home charging isn't possible.

Another point is they may be asked to do a long run, unless topped up frequently customers won't want to wait if you haven't enough range for the trip.’

No suggestion of electric from me, apart from why use three pedals and a gearlever when there are lots of auto options. Petrol, diesel, hybrid.

That said, none of the drives seemed to ever use anything lower than third anyway…
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Sun 6 Oct 2024 18:59
MG EV - Another MGZS EV Taxi - SLO76
Seen a fair number of Leaf and MG5 taxis around Glasgow of late. Much as I like our Leaf and I rate the space inside, I’d favour the MG for the battery thermal control to manage the repeated fast charging an EV taxi is likely to experience as the Leaf doesn’t take kindly to this. I’ve heard they’re generally very robust, with many carrying big six figure mileages.
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Sun 6 Oct 2024 19:49
MG EV - Another MGZS EV Taxi - Terry W

In an urban area the typical taxi daily mileage may only need a single charge. 150 miles daily at average urban speeds = around 7-10 hours driving. 5 days a week is ~40k pa.

At (say) 15p per mile for petrol (40mpg, £6 per gallon) is £6,000 pa. EV at cheap overnight rates (10p KWH and 4m per kwh) = 2.5p per mile = £1000pa.

For taxi owners who can charge overnight off road EV could save around £5000 pa. With a saving that size. missing out on the occasional long journey is probably unimportant.

For taxis in smaller provincial towns the numbers may look rather different where common journeys (eg: from local station) may take in local small villages 5, 10 or 20 miles away..

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Mon 28 Oct 2024 02:24
MG EV - Another MGZS EV Taxi - Lygonos

Chap on the MG EV Fudgebook page has been running a Mk1 ZS EV (44kWh) since end-2019 and has recently passed 200k miles with very little issue.

Edited by Lygonos on 28/10/2024 at 02:25

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Mon 28 Oct 2024 08:00
MG EV - Another MGZS EV Taxi - Steveieb

GB asked for the Toyota and Lexus battery repair facility in Northampton.

https://www.hybridbatterysolutions.co.uk/prices-and-services/

Various warranties available depending on length ie 12 Months/ 2 Years.

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Mon 28 Oct 2024 09:15
MG EV - Another MGZS EV Taxi - bathtub tom

Hmm?

In order to confirm a battery pack rebuild with us we require a ?100 deposit to secure your appointment – either in cash, confirmed bank transfer or via pay pal (this deposit will be deducted from the final cost) & at least 10 working days prior notice to prepare the necessary equipment.

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Mon 28 Oct 2024 09:55
MG EV - Another MGZS EV Taxi - gordonbennet

Hmm?

In order to confirm a battery pack rebuild with us we require a ?100 deposit to secure your appointment – either in cash, confirmed bank transfer or via pay pal (this deposit will be deducted from the final cost) & at least 10 working days prior notice to prepare the necessary equipment.

Can't say i blame them, otherwise they'd have wasted time thanks to already planned for no shows, this must be a worse issue than ever because lack of manners/courtesy etc over the years.

Similar when i booked the Forester in for LPG conversion, workshop wanted my credit card details for a deposit, when i got to the workshop he told me he discarded the info as i gave it, because i'd been happy to supply my info he knew i was almost certainly going to turn up.

Place we get our stainless exhausts made and fitted don't do this, hence i suspect they overbook jobs in the knowledge one or more no shows, the first time it appeared everyone turned up hence we there probably 7 hours, second time in and out in about 2 hours.

Edited by gordonbennet on 28/10/2024 at 09:55

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Mon 28 Oct 2024 09:47
MG EV - Another MGZS EV Taxi - gordonbennet

GB asked for the Toyota and Lexus battery repair facility in Northampton.

https://www.hybridbatterysolutions.co.uk/prices-and-services/

Various warranties available depending on length ie 12 Months/ 2 Years.

Much obliged to my learned friend, that's bookmarked now, i wonder if this is on the site of or anything to do with the sadly gone Northampton Diesels?

Edited by gordonbennet on 28/10/2024 at 09:58

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Mon 28 Oct 2024 10:10
MG EV - Another MGZS EV Taxi - Chris M

I hope their automotive work is better than their website design.

And whilst accepting EV batteries aren't for the untrained, I'd also take issue with the safety warning. Kilowatts don't kill. Amps do that.

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Mon 28 Oct 2024 12:06
MG EV - Another MGZS EV Taxi - John F

And whilst accepting EV batteries aren't for the untrained, I'd also take issue with the safety warning. Kilowatts don't kill. Amps do that.

Only if there is somewhere for them to go after passing through the body. Amps can't kill by themselves. That's why birds can happily perch on a wire with hundreds of amps flowing along it. To make enough amps flow through someone to kill them, you need a considerable number of volts. Volts x amps = watts. So when working with electricity, always wear rubber soles and only use one hand!

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Mon 28 Oct 2024 12:10
MG EV - Another MGZS EV Taxi - Chris M

And avoid DC.

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Mon 28 Oct 2024 16:24
MG EV - Another MGZS EV Taxi - bathtub tom

Only if there is somewhere for them to go after passing through the body.

It only takes a number of milliamps passing through the body to kill, never mind if it's got somewher to go after.

A colleague believed that if I placed a spanner on one side of a car battery, grabbed it in one hand and held the other battery terminal with the other hand then the current would kill me. Because he'd been told a spanner across the battery terminals could, potentially, deliver hundreds of amps.

In an amateur cricket match, a fielder refused to catch a ball that had been skyed and hit a power line because he thought he could get an electric shock that would kill him.

Both the above had electrical engineering qualifications!

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Mon 28 Oct 2024 14:48
MG EV - Another MGZS EV Taxi - mcb100
‘So when working with electricity, always wear rubber soles and only use one hand!’

An EV technician, when working on traction battery related matters, will be wearing two pairs of gloves, standing on a rubber mat, will have their work area cordoned off by chains and posts, and there’ll be an insulated pole with a loop at the end (like that sitting by the side of a swimming pool) for pulling him/her off a live battery. And they should be working one handed.
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