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Taking care of your Loved One Is What We Do BEST!

It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always

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Home Care In London, TX

Home Care London, TX

They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.

However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Victoria Memorial gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in London, TX is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care London, TX

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.

Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.

The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.

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TESTIMONIALS

“My experience with these amazing home care professionals is as close to perfect as it gets! I have a dear friend that is in hospice and needed a little extra home care. Ken, the owner, was fast to respond to my call and started home care right away. I can't say enough good things about my experience with Always Best Care Senior Services' staff and owner.”

Edward C.
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TESTIMONIALS

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Tsholofelo M.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I work for this team and it's a wonderful team , great communication and support for our clients, their family members and our caring team of staff .”

Antoinette G.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I am a past client of this provider Ken and Bonnie were wonderful to work with. They were able to provide my mother with care and a very short notice. Their staff was some of the most caring people that I've ever met. Not only were they wonderful to my mother but also to my family. I would highly recommend using them.”

Mark A.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Ken and Bonnie are wonderful people to help care for your loved ones. their staff was so caring to my mother and so nice to my family I highly recommend them to take care of your loved ones. I think there ought to be more than just five stars to give them”

Mark A.
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TESTIMONIALS

“For those who are searching for qualified caregivers for their loved ones, contact Ken Thomas at Always Best Care Senior Services. Mr. Thomas provides an authentic and professional guiding hand when discussing available services for your precious senior family members. When it is time for a beloved senior to receive assistance, Mr. Thomas understands the importance of providing trustworthy and quality support.”

Melissa C.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Ken leads his Always Best Care Senior Services Agency with compassion for his clients and their families. He is a local senior care expert and leader in his community. If you are need of assistance in navigating your local senior care options, then do not hesitate to give Ken a call!”

Kelly B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Kenneth is kind, patient, experienced and knowledgeable. We are thankful to him for all his efforts and for going above and beyond.”

Chae S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Very professional and welcoming people so I would definitely recommend my friends and family to Always Best Care in Boerne.”

Laurie K.
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TESTIMONIALS

“The owner is so understanding and supportive of how I want my loved ones cared for. He and his staff actually listen to what I would like done for my parents. Very thoughtful, very professional and very caring. It’s such a relief to have help in caring for my loved ones”

Kristen B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Kenneth is knowledgeable and trustworthy. I can’t recommend him enough. You’re in good hands with Kenneth.”

Chae S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“ALWAYS BEST CARE is certainly a warm & caring business owned & operated by Ken Thomas. I certainly would recommend them for you or your loved ones excellent care.”

Shirley S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I will be forever grateful for the love you showered upon us and my grandmother”

Jill &.

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in London, TX?

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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.

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When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

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At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

 Senior Care London, TX

Types of Elderly Care in London, TX

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal Care Services

If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.

Common personal care services include assistance with:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming

Respite Care London, TX
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.

Common home helper care services include assistance with:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
 Caregivers London, TX
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Hyde Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
Home Care London, TX
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Restaurant Story or visit Tower of London, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.

At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.

If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.

 In-Home Care London, TX

Benefits of Home Care in London, TX

Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:

Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.

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Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?

A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.

With the help of elderly care in London, TX, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.

Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.

In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

 Elderly Care London, TX

Affordable Care

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your TX's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
 Senior Care London, TX

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in London, TX understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

Assisted Living Referral Services

While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.

Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.


Respite Care London, TX

At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.

Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
 Caregivers London, TX

At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.

Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.

Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:

  • Coopers Court Retirement Community - Sanctuary Supported Living
  • Hillyard House Retirement Community - Sanctuary Supported Living
  • Eden Court Retirement Village
  • Parigester Court
  • Esther Randall Court
  • St Teresa's Care Home
Home Care London, TX

For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.

 In-Home Care London, TX

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way

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A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in London, TX 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

 Elderly Care London, TX

Latest News in London, TX

First drive: LEVC TX taxi on the streets of London

The new LEVC TX taxi will start accepting fare-paying passengers in London today, the latest step in a series of trials ahead of the first deliveries of the electrified cab early next year – and Autocar has had an early taste of the car on the streets of the capital.After an extensive development programme, a small fleet of production-spec ...

The new LEVC TX taxi will start accepting fare-paying passengers in London today, the latest step in a series of trials ahead of the first deliveries of the electrified cab early next year – and Autocar has had an early taste of the car on the streets of the capital.

After an extensive development programme, a small fleet of production-spec TX cabs has been undergoing evaluation by Transport for London (TfL)-licensed black cab drivers, giving a small number of passengers free rides as part of that process. Those cabs will now be used on regular routes, giving LEVC a final chance to gather feedback and hone the design while production ramps up at its new Coventry facility.

Steve Cropley drives a LEVC TX prototype

Autocar has previously had a passenger ride on London roads in a prototype cab and driven a similar development machine on rural roads near LEVC’s new factory. We’ve now had our first taste of an effectively final-spec machine – in full classic black livery – on London roads.

The first thing to note is that our short test route, which loops out of LEVC’s North London showroom, is far from ideal for testing the dynamic properties of a car. On a busy weekday afternoon, our run down Euston Road past King's Cross, past Regents Park and round the tight streets of Little Venice offers plenty of traffic and virtually no flowing corners. Yet conversely, those are ideal conditions in which to evaluate the new TX, since it’s the sort of roads that the bulk of the London-bound examples will spend the vast bulk of their time traversing.

That said, on first sight, the prospect of driving a TX in London traffic is, to a non-taxi driver, at least, a little intimidating: it’s far bulkier than the old diesel-powered TX4 it’s replacing. The two machines share a very similar footprint – London taxi rules dictate a maximum width, as well as that famous 8.5-metre turning circle. The TX is marginally higher than its predecessor and, at 4860mm, around 280mm longer, and it certainly fills that space far more comprehensively than its predecessor. The large slab sides hint at both the far more spacious interior – for both driver and passengers – and the enhanced safety features.

Taxi! We swap seats to drive London’s electrified black cab

Walking to the office of the London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) near Kings Cross, I pass a souvenir shop. There, in the window, among Royal Family tea towels, fluffy British bulldogs and Big Ben bookends, are two toy vehicles: a red bus and a black cab. Because very few things say ‘London’ quite like its traditional taxi.One way the black cab became so iconic, a cynic might say, was by failing to move with the time...

Walking to the office of the London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) near Kings Cross, I pass a souvenir shop. There, in the window, among Royal Family tea towels, fluffy British bulldogs and Big Ben bookends, are two toy vehicles: a red bus and a black cab. Because very few things say ‘London’ quite like its traditional taxi.

One way the black cab became so iconic, a cynic might say, was by failing to move with the times. The motorised Hackney Carriage had only seen three significant updates since the Austin FX3 was launched in 1948. The car I’m here to drive changed all that. Behind a familiar face, London finally has a high-tech taxi it deserves.

Going by the snappy title of LEVC TX eCity, the latest cab ditches outdated diesel engines for plug-in electric tech. It’s cleaner, cheaper to run, safer and more socially acceptable. It’s also much nicer for both passengers and drivers, as I’ll discover.

Sent to Coventry

LEVC is owned by Chinese carmaker, Geely, but the TX is built in the UK. A £325 million investment created 1,000 new jobs, plus capacity to build more than 20,000 taxis per year.

Now, with the addition of the mechanically similar LEVC VN5 van and spin-off camper van, the factory in Ansty, near Coventry, is growing further.

Geely also owns Lotus and is best known for bankrolling the rebirth of Volvo. Since the takeover in 2010, Volvo has launched a new range of award-winning cars and SUVs, plus standalone sub-brand Polestar.

The LEVC TX borrows many parts from its Swedish cousin, including an electric motor from the sporty Polestar 1 (which has two of them).

Making the black cab green

LEVC refers to the TX as ‘electric’ because its 1.5-litre petrol engine is only used to boost the batteries – not drive the wheels. More accurately, it’s a range-extender hybrid, with plug-in points for both CCS- and Chademo-style chargers either side of the front grille.

The batteries can be topped up to 80 percent capacity in 25 minutes, and full charge gives an electric-only range of 80 miles – two thirds of the 120 miles a typical cabbie drives in a day.

Quoted fuel economy is 217.3mpg, although that drops to just 36.7mpg with the batteries depleted. Still, the old diesel-powered TX4 managed 33.2mpg at best.

One stumbling block for LEVC is that only 60 percent of cabbies have off-street parking to charge overnight. For those that do, however, the savings are significant. My driver, Pat, told me his TX cost £2.80 to charge and saved £80 a week in fuel – around £4,000 a year – versus his TX4. With recent rises in the cost of fuel, that advantage will only have increased.

More pleasant for passengers

The plan is for Pat to chauffeur me into central London, then I’ll drive back. Opening the TX’s big, rear-hinged door, there are now six seats rather than five, along with appreciably more space.

Passengers in wheelchairs can also face forwards for the first time: a notable safety gain.

The fabrics and fittings are still very much ‘wipe clean’, but there’s air-conditioning, on-board wi-fi and charging sockets for phones and laptops. A standard-fit panoramic glass sunroof bathes the cabin in light – and offers a great view of London’s loftier landmarks. “Tourists love it,” smiles Pat.

On the move, the TX is smooth and eerily quiet, a calm cocoon amid the bustling streets and a stark contrast to rattling taxis of old. With just me on board, its ride feels on the firm side, although a full complement of six passengers would doubtless dampen it down.

The ‘ultimate driving machine’ for cabbies

Pat pulls over by Regent’s Park and it’s my turn to take the wheel. If you’ve driven any recent Volvo, the TX’s dashboard will feel instantly familiar. There’s a rebranded version of the Sensus touchscreen media system and even the key is the same.

Squared-off styling and a high, SUV-like driving position make the TX easy to place on the road. It’s astonishingly manoeuvrable, too, mainly thanks to front wheels that swivel 63 degrees (versus 38 degrees in a typical car). Three-point turns are a thing of the past.

The instant torque of the electric motor offers brisk acceleration, even if top speed is a modest 80mph. You can also switch into one of two regenerative braking modes, which use friction to slow the car and charge the batteries – allowing one-pedal driving at city speeds.

The new cab is a great way to travel around London – and not only because you can zip along bus lanes. It’s capable and well suited to its environment. Sadly, the same can’t be said of me, and I rely on Pat’s directions to get us home. Sat-nav is optional, but it’s no substitute for three years of learning The Knowledge.

First London, then the world

LEVC has plans that stretch far beyond the M25. The cab is already carrying passengers in Edinburgh, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Oslo and many other cities.

There was even talk of the TX being sold in New York – in iconic ‘yellow cab’ livery, no less – now the city’s taxi industry has been deregulated. It sure beats the ‘van with windows’ Nissan NV200.

London will remain LEVC’s biggest market, though, and the TX has already become part of the streetscape here. Shame the souvenir industry hasn’t kept pace; it’s still flogging toy TX4s.

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New London Taxi LEVC TX review

If you’re fed up with riding around in a taxi that seems from a different era, then the new TX will really delight. It’s smooth, quiet and comfortable and has many modern touches commuters need. But if you’re a cabbie the transformation from old TX4 to new TX is unbelievable. It drives much like a modern hybrid SUV and won’t make cabbies feel like second-class drivers anymore.Considering its importance to the fabric of London life, it’s remarkable there have only ever been a handful of taxi models built s...

If you’re fed up with riding around in a taxi that seems from a different era, then the new TX will really delight. It’s smooth, quiet and comfortable and has many modern touches commuters need. But if you’re a cabbie the transformation from old TX4 to new TX is unbelievable. It drives much like a modern hybrid SUV and won’t make cabbies feel like second-class drivers anymore.

Considering its importance to the fabric of London life, it’s remarkable there have only ever been a handful of taxi models built solely for the Capital. Unlike the other cars Auto Express reviews, there are not brand new taxis every year – rather there are landmark taxis over the last 70 years that have trudged on, lightly updated, and ferried the millions, if not billions, of people around London.

The story can be loosely boiled down two three models – the Austin FX3 of 1949, followed by the 1958 FX4 (which became the Fairway in 1989) and the TX1 launched in 1997. This new TX, though, is easily the biggest step-change.

It still holds onto a number of features from its predecessors, however. Like the FXs and TXs, the new one is totally bespoke for London – it’s not a Mercedes Vito that’s been adapted for life on the Big Smoke’s streets, for example – and there’s a nod to the ‘bowler hat’ design and suicide doors. The other similarities are legal – it has to have wheelchair access and it must have a turning circle of 25 feet (that’s the width of the turning circle outside the Savoy hotel). But from here on it’s totally different.

The name is a clue to how different it is. The ‘traditional’ London taxi builder has been known as Carbodies, London Taxis International and the London Taxi Company over the years. But now, owned by the Chinese powerhouse Geeley, the firm calls itself the London Electric Vehicle Company – or LEVC – and has a super smart new £325m factory in Coventry for the production of electric vehicles.

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The TX is the first new product to trundle down the new production line, but it’s not completely electric though. Under its stylish but retro body, there’s a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine from another Geeley brand – Volvo. At the back there’s an electric motor powering the rear wheels, but LEVC makes a big point of the TX not being a hybrid. To them, ‘hybrid’ means only one thing – the Toyota Prius – so refers to the TX as a range-extender like the BMW i3.

It drives much like your typical range extender, too. There’s around an 80-mile pure electric range so it means for the vast majority of a cabbie’s shift, they’ll be gliding around on electric power, with the engine kicking in occasionally to extend the range (this is when the TX is in ‘Smart’ mode; there are two other modes ‘Pure EV’ and ‘Save’ which stores the electricity). There’s none of the old TX4’s wailing diesel engine and black smoke pouring out the exhaust here.

The TX is as smooth and quiet as most EVs around town; the ride is good and TX is simple, easy and enjoyable to drive. The only really gripes being a bit of road noise, a regenerative brake pedal that is to modulate pressure with, and with that electric motor generating 255Nm of torque, the rear wheels have a tendency to spin up.

New LEVC plug-in van

Up front and it’s like being in a large SUV. There’s a commanding driving position, the doors are thick and there’s good visibility. The SUV theme continues when you look at the controls as almost all the touch-points – the wheel, stalks, gearlever, start/stop switch and even the key – are pinched from the Volvo XC90. There’s even the Volvo’s nine-inch portrait touchscreen too. There’s a slightly different software theme but it works in the same way.

There’s a range of three trims; basic equipment includes the touchscreen, a panoramic roof, auto lights and wipers and rear parking sensors while our top spec cab throws in sat-nav and front parking sensors. Overall it couldn’t be more different to the cramped seating position and haphazard dashboard layout in the outgoing diesel-powered TX4 cab.

In the back and it’s similarly new world. There’s now space for six, there are conveniences like USB charging ports and a three-pin socket, and there’s even climate control and on-board wi-fi. But it’s the panoramic roof that’s the real boon – well it is in December, whether punters will enjoy it in mid-July is another thing.

On our test drive we were stopped by a dozen cabbies all wanting to know more about the TX. It’s new look and electric driving range excited all those who stopped us, but there are concerns there aren’t enough rapid chargers in London to top up the TX’s batteries. And despite reasonable weekly payment plans, there’s no overlooking the TX’s asking price (it starts at £55,599) is strong. Despite this though, the TX is exactly the taxi London needs and wants.

New TX London Taxi ride review

More reviews In-depth reviewsRoad testsUsed car testsThe TX is powered primarily by rear-mounted electric motors with a total power output of 120kW and an EV range of over 75 miles in normal use. With the 1.5-litre Volvo-sourced three-cylinder petrol generator turned on that potential range increases to 400 miles or more. Regenerative braking helps top up the battery further. LEVC’s engineers resent it being called a &l...

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The TX is powered primarily by rear-mounted electric motors with a total power output of 120kW and an EV range of over 75 miles in normal use. With the 1.5-litre Volvo-sourced three-cylinder petrol generator turned on that potential range increases to 400 miles or more. Regenerative braking helps top up the battery further. LEVC’s engineers resent it being called a ‘hybrid’, lumping it in with cars like the Toyota Prius that run with the engine on most of the time.

With the average London cabbie completing roughly 120 miles a day, LEVC bosses expect most TX users to use one of Transport for London’s rapid chargers (75 will be installed by the end of this year, with double that expected by 2018) to get an eighty per-cent range top-up in 20 minutes. LEVC estimates that even in a worse-case scenario where a driver uses £50 of petrol a week, they’ll save about £100 over that period with the TX. The environmental benefits are obvious, too, with far less local pollutants and particulate emissions than the old diesel TX4 cabs.

Despite this, LEVC says a small percentage of drivers have concerns, ranging from where they can charge it at home to how expensive the battery is to replace. Product Manager Alistair Fairgreave claims these can be resolved with “a bit of informed education”.

“Many drivers are of the belief that a battery has to be a disposable or expensive to maintain item. The reality is that there’s nothing a driver can do to damage the battery, short of having an accident, and our durability testing for the TX has been far in excess of what we’ve previously done”.

LEVC are so confident that each TX is offered with a five-year, unlimited mileage warranty. Given cabbies will usually cover up to 200,000 miles in that time, it’s a big commitment. In case this doesn’t quell concerns, LEVC is inviting current drivers to its London showroom to demonstrate the new model.

After we were briefed in a similar style to the drivers, we hit the road in the back of a camouflaged prototype with Fairgreave and Technical Director Ian Collins, a man with 23 years of engineering experience at companies such as Rover and McLaren. He’s been working on the project since its conception in early 2013, and is proud of how quickly LEVC has got the TX to market.

Although passengers won’t spend any time up there, the front compartment is the biggest revelation. It’s lifted almost wholesale from Volvo, meaning TFT dials, a crisp central touchscreen and levels of space and material quality a TX4 driver could only dream of. And while it lacks items such as lane assist or blind spot monitoring, it does retain autonomous braking, which works up to a speed of 47mph - perfect for London's congested streets.

The rear is more advanced, too – it may be a familiar layout and design, but details like touch controls for the air-con, WiFi connectivity and a three-pin charging socket make it a more business-like environment for passengers. Accessibility is improved; there’s a neat wheelchair ramp that slides out of the floor, and the rear-hinged doors make it a doddle to step in. There’s roomy seating for six now, too.

Like any EV, our ‘cabbie’ simply engaged drive and headed off, with the electric motor whirring behind our heads. Collins admits that there’s still some work to be done to insulate the motor, which at the moment is audible but not intrusive. Still, it’s far quieter than taxis of old.

The instant torque of the motor also means the TX feels pretty sprightly around town. Collins claims that the team reduced the powertrain’s output during testing as it was “too powerful”, spinning up the rear wheels without much effort. No figures for acceleration or weight are quoted, but Collins admits it weighs “about as much as a large SUV” and is capable of sitting comfortably at just over 70mph. Our journey was almost entirely in electric mode, with the range-extender firing up with a distant rumble only as a demonstration.

Obviously, we’ve no experience of how it handles, but over the speed bump infested London streets it seem to absorb all but the worst intrusions. Collins states that it’s been benchmarked against a Volvo XC90, and while it’s a way off that car’s luxurious feel this certainly feels like a cut above any taxi we’ve sat in before. And sure enough, when it’s time to turn back, the trademark super-tight 63 degree turning circle every London cab needs comes into play.

LEVC has expectations of shifting over 1,500 examples next of the TX next year, with 90 per cent of buyers expected to take advantage of the five-year weekly payment deal. And with government regulations ensuring all London taxis must have a zero emission range of at least 30 miles next year, LEVC is in a prime position to capitalise on this.

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First LEVC TX London black cab now operational in capital

LEVC has handed over the first customer TX to its new owner, meaning the first commercially operational electric London cab has begun working in public.The taxi, a model capable of zero-emissions driving, was certified to carry fare-paying passengers last month. An LEVC spokesman told Autocar that it has now received more than 200 orders, with production at the company's Coventry plant now due to ramp up....

LEVC has handed over the first customer TX to its new owner, meaning the first commercially operational electric London cab has begun working in public.

The taxi, a model capable of zero-emissions driving, was certified to carry fare-paying passengers last month. An LEVC spokesman told Autocar that it has now received more than 200 orders, with production at the company's Coventry plant now due to ramp up.

Autocar has already driven the LEVX TX taxi. Click here to rear the first drive

It is priced from £55,599 but is also available with a finance plan that charges drivers £177 per week over a five-year period. LEVC, the Geely-owned firm formerly known as the London Taxi Company, said the outgoing TX4 model cost £167 per week over a four-year period.

LEVC says it has focused on weekly lease costs rather than an outright purchase price because that is how 94% of taxi drivers fund their vehicles. The TX is being sold with its battery so that no additional lease charges are incurred.

LEVC claimed that its new model will cost drivers about £50 per week in fuel, based on an average of about 115 miles per working day. The weekly estimate is £100 less than the outgoing 2.7-litre diesel-powered TX4 can achieve.

The new electrified taxi arrives as 2018 legislation, developed by Transport for London (TfL) to dictate all new cabs must be capable of zero-emissions driving for at least 30 miles, comes into force. The LEVC TX is powered by an advanced battery electric powertrain with a 1.3-litre petrol generator, a system that its maker calls 'eCity'.

This range-extender technology gives the TX a range of more than 400 miles and it can run for more than 70 miles on electric power only. It can charge its depleted battery to almost full in 20 minutes via a rapid charger, in two hours with a fast charger and in about eight to ten hours on a trickle charger.

LEVC will service the taxis for free during the first three years or 90,000 miles of their lives. It will also provide a full manufacturer warranty and free roadside assistance for the first three years or 120,000 miles.

LEVC commercial director Richard Gordon said: “I am delighted to announce such a competitive package for the new electric TX. Market leading in every way, this is a truly outstanding new vehicle that will revolutionise the taxi trade in London from an emissions perspective, for passenger comfort, experience and enjoyment, and importantly for the drivers.”

Exclusive: first ride in new London Black Cab up Goodwood hill

A disguised TX prototype ran at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed. In a subsequent interview with Autocar, Geely's design team explained how they incorporated the iconic London black cab look, most notably from the FX4 and TX4, into the new vehicle.

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