The taxi from its beginnings to the present day: the evolution of the vehicle

The evolution of the taxi vehicle goes through five major stages. First, horse-drawn hire carriages, such as the fiacre, the cabriolet or the hansom. At the end of the nineteenth century, the first motor taxis, electric and petrol, of which petrol won. In the twentieth century, cars designed specifically to be taxis, such as the London black cab or the New York Checker. Then, in Europe, the long diesel era. And today, hybrids and electric cars, together with adapted vehicles and those with more seats. In every era, the taxi has looked for the same things: durability, room for passengers and luggage, and an affordable cost per kilometre.

If you are looking for the general context, with dates and cities, you will find it in the history of taxis around the world.

The first taxis were carriages adapted for hire in the city. The Parisian fiacre was a solid, closed carriage, ready for any weather. The cabriolet, lighter and faster, was so successful that its shortened name, cab, still refers to the taxi in English. In 1834 the hansom cab was patented in England, a two-wheeled carriage with the driver sitting high up at the back, which gave the passenger a good view and was very nimble in traffic.

When the first motor hire cars appeared, it was not clear which technology would win. In London and New York there were fleets of electric taxis that drew attention for how quiet they were. But the batteries were heavy, the range short and recharging slow. The petrol engine, noisier but able to work all day with a quick refuel, won out within a few years.

Those taxis were in many cases ordinary cars with a taximeter, a high roof and room for luggage, often with the driver separated from the passengers.

Some cities went further and required vehicles with specific features. The best-known case is London, where the taxi rules demanded, among other things, a very tight turning circle for manoeuvring in narrow streets. That is how the black cabs came about, such as the 1958 Austin FX4, with a roomy interior and high roof, which for decades was the image of the London taxi. In New York, the sturdy, spacious Checkers became the quintessential taxi until they stopped being made.

We look at these models and others just as recognisable in the most recognisable taxis in the world.

In much of Europe, including Spain, the taxi of the second half of the twentieth century was a diesel saloon. The reason was economic: a taxi covers many more kilometres a year than a private car, and diesel used less fuel and lasted hundreds of thousands of kilometres with reasonable maintenance. The ivory-coloured German saloons became iconic in their home country, as did other makes in the rest of Europe.

The price of that efficiency was emissions. With traffic restrictions in cities, diesel has been losing ground in the taxi world.

The hybrid was the first big answer: it uses little fuel in the city, where taxis spend much of their time, and does not depend on a charging network. We explain why they became so widespread in the trend for hybrid cars. The next step is the fully electric car, increasingly present in fleets as range and charging points improve.

The fleet has also diversified to meet different needs: vehicles with a ramp or lift for wheelchairs, which we discuss in taxis adapted for people with disabilities, and people carriers for groups. With our service, if there are 5 or more of you or you have a lot of luggage, we recommend a taxi with up to 7 seats; and for companies or events, our private airport transfer.