Innovations

The coolest tech and gadgets we’ve seen this month.

In December, the first battery-powered black cabs hit the streets of London, just a few weeks after the news broke that all newly licensed London taxis will need to be zero emissions from January 2018.

The TX taxis, which use Volvo technology, are something of a hybrid system. They can travel 130km (80 miles) on a charge and are fitted with a 1.5-litre petrol engine for longer journeys. They’re crammed with tech too, and come complete with contactless card machines, Wi-Fi, power sockets and USB charging capabilities, while their filter system will scour gases and particulates from the air. It is hoped that the new cabs, which cost £55,000 to buy, will help improve conditions in the pollution-filled capital. By 2021, there should be over 9,000 of these cabs operating in London – look out for them on your next trip!