Comments on: World’s Largest EV Bus & Taxi Fleet Gets 1,500 Vehicles Larger

By: Bob_Wallace

Bob_Wallace — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:58:00 +0000

Different countries have different ideas about what looks good. A lot of the cars sold in Japan don’t appeal to me at all.

BYD has partnered with Daimler to produce EVs for the western market. There’s a German design team working right now.

German design and quality combined with Chinese battery technology is likely to yield some interesting results.

By: MySchizoBuddy

MySchizoBuddy — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:46:00 +0000

only if they can hire a good designer. these cars and buses look pretty ancient.

By: Bob_Wallace

Bob_Wallace — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:42:00 +0000

Kalamazoo used to be the home of Checker Cabs. For you youngsters, specially made cars for the taxi industry.

They were taller than most other cars which made it easier to get into/out of. They had lots of space behind the driver’s seat. Some/all had fold down seats behind the driver for extra seating.

Checkers ruled city streets.

As the EV industry builds we could see something like then again. City taxis don’t need to be extremely aerodynamic like a car that often travels at high speed, a bit of extra height would not cut range much. Making them longer in order wouldn’t add much weight.

Many of us have gotten used to folding ourselves up and squeezing into the back of a Camry/taxi. There could be alternatives.