Chinese car manufacturer Geely, which co-owns the company which produces London’s black cabs, has met UK government officials to discuss bringing electric-powered taxis to the UK.

“One of our ideas is to convert London taxis ,” Li Shufu, the company’s chairman, told the Financial Times in an interview.

Li previously discussed the idea with London Major, Boris Johnson, during the Beijing Olympics.

Geely owns 23 per cent of Manganese Bronze, the UK manufacturer of London’s distinctive black cabs.

Earlier this year, Manganese Bronze signed a research and development agreement with Tanfield Electric Vehicles to develop all-electric plug-in taxis.

Geely is looking to develop its own range of electric and hybrid vehicles and will begin to produce the London taxis in China later this year.

Research and development of electric taxis is already underway in Shanghai.