Manganese Bronze, one of the main manufacturers of London black cabs, has signed an agreement with electric vehicle maker Tanfield to make battery powered taxis that should hit the streets by mid 2009.

you must be joking.

The TX4E will contain all the conventional features of the TX4, but will be
powered by Tanfield's advanced electric drive train and Iron Phosphate
lithium-ion battery pack. Based on current electricity prices, it is estimated
the TX4E will cost less than 4p per mile to run, therefore providing significant
whole life cost savings over an equivalent diesel vehicle. The initial cost of
the TX4E is however likely to be higher than the diesel powered TX4. The target
date for the launch of the TX4E is mid 2009 following engineering assessment and
customer testing.

DIESEL NOW 130p

Interim results out on Thursday 31 July 2008.

BEWARE!
MNGS is collapsing with TAN.

All capital projects are suffering - folk can delay the purchase of a vehicle ( or Taxi-cab), and can stay with the one they have...for a bit longer - partly because it buys them a "better" vehicle.... like Digital Cameras...the delay is worth the wait!

I suspect that TAN's electric-vehicles will become a far greater % of their business ( past estimates 20%), since "green" issues are comparativly cheap....a vehicle is very visible and can be included in company presentations, adverts etc. etc. and there is a chance there will be savings over diesel. ( Also for TAN, their cherry-pickers may well be in decline for 2-years ++ as existing stock waers out.)

MNGS is attempting a rear-guard action - I understand Mercedes now has an approved vehicle ( complete with rear-wheel steer to achieve the necessary turning-circle demanded for London's streets). The question Taxi-drivers want to know the relative price of these vehicles....and the running cost.

I don't think TAN makes a "taxi" although it has some connection with Ford - for delivery-van bodies. . . ( possible electric Focus-max?)... so the link with MNGS is quite logical.
In London, I'm unaware of any "charging places" for taxis (or other electrics) - so this may be a downer on short-term sales.

I don't hold MNGS,
-but do have TAN, bought about twice current.

STILL GOING DOWN. I SEE 130p

"..In London, I'm unaware of any "charging places" for taxis (or other electrics).."

There are now 60 EV charging points in London, and nationwide there will shortly be 250 within shopping malls in various cities, rising to a thousand or so by the start of next year. These are mostly suited to private cars not taxis (taxis need a faster charge - thes mostly take an hour or more to provide a useful top-up. Useful to someone shopping for an hour or going for lunch).

pretty good news announced tonite, sp trashed all week yet the banks have granted a five year $35million facility to one of the groups divisions - one in the eye for the shorters and the doomsters who have been saying the business is terminal. sold to oblivion this week , monday should be interesting...

The recession is the Key when MNGS stop going down it will signal the beinging of the end of the recession.

Evil Knieval is shorting MNGS...Sell at 296p

good start to week.

nice day.

I AM SO HAPPY.

Blimey, that's a chart!

it has stopped going down.

my best day ever.

IT STILL GOING DOWN

What a chart!