History Hackney carriage

electric hackney carriages appeared before introduction of internal combustion engine vehicles hire in 1901. in fact there london electrical cab company: cabs informally called berseys after manager designed them, walter c. bersey. nickname hummingbirds sound made. in august 1897 25 introduced, , 1898 there 50 more. during 20th century, cars replaced horse-drawn models, , last horse-drawn hackney carriage ceased service in london in 1947.

uk regulations define hackney carriage taxicab allowed ply streets looking passengers pick up, opposed private hire vehicles (sometimes called minicabs), may pick passengers have booked or visit taxi operator s office. in 1999, first of series of fuel cell powered taxis tried out in london. millennium cab built zetek gained television coverage , great interest when driven in sheraton hotel ballroom in new york judd hirsch, star of television series taxi. zetek built 3 cabs ceased activities in 2001.

continuing horse-drawn cab services

horse-drawn hackney services continue operate in parts of uk, example in cockington, torquay. town of windsor, berkshire, believed last remaining town continuous lineage of horse-drawn hackney carriages, run orchard poyle carriages, licence having been passed down driver driver since 1830.

the royal borough licences carriage rides around windsor castle , great park, original hackney licence in place allowing passenger travel under same law passed in 1662. city of bath has occasional horse-drawn hackney, principally tourists, still carrying hackney plates.