China's BYD sending electric cabs to UK

CHINESE automaker BYD Co. is sending 50 electric cabs to London in a boost to China's struggling makers of all-electric vehicles.

CHINESE automaker BYD Co. is sending 50 electric cabs to London in a boost to China's struggling makers of all-electric vehicles.

BYD and London cab company Green Tomato Cars announced this week they will start a trial using 50 of BYD's e6 sedans in late 2013.

The Chinese automaker, one of whose investors is Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Corp., says the e6 can travel 300 kilometres on one charge.

BYD has supplied 300 electric taxis and 200 electric buses being used in the southern city of Shenzhen.

China's electric vehicle sales are falling behind the United States and Japan, according to McKinsey & Co. The consulting firm reported this week that sales of all-electric autos in China fell 31 per cent in the second quarter to just 235 vehicles.