Nissan Lands World’s Largest Electric Taxi Fleet Deal
Electric cars rapidly multiplying is good news. They clean up urban pollution (well, prevent more of it). With an expanding electric taxi fleet in Madrid, the city is aligning itself as a cleantech-focused metropolitan center similar to Amsterdam. Nissan reports that La Ciudad del Taxi is adding 110 new Nissan LEAFs with 30 kWh batteries. The 30 kWh Nissan LEAF is quite capable, with 26% more range than the 1st-generation LEAF I drive.
Jesús Ramos Fernández, president of La Ciudad del Taxi, states: “This operation will set the standard for the mobility of the future as far as the taxi industry is concerned.”
Gas2.com also carried the news regarding this world-record electric taxi fleet, pointing out that the LEAF EV is ideal for taxi service in a congested city like Madrid. “Its compact size makes it easy to maneuver in traffic and its low operating costs are appealing to fleet operators. On average, the cost of electricity and maintenance for a LEAF is about 25% of what it would be for a conventional taxi with an internal combustion engine.”
100 Nissan LEAFs and e-NV200s have previously been ordered for taxi fleets in Amsterdam, and 65 LEAFs in Budapest. So, Madrid slips past Amsterdam for the #1 spot now.
La Ciudad del Taxi writes, “we hope to have the support of government to move this project forward so that the taxi industry will be strengthened by these measures, since at present it is going through serious difficulties.”
And, since charging stations are a critical part of an EV transition, “Madrid City Council has also confirmed it is ready to install charging infrastructure across the capital.”
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Madrid did not go for the bigger e-NV200, which was aimed at the urban taxi and small van market. It doesn’t seem to be doing well. Any ideas why?
Had the same thought. No idea why. The ideal car for a taxi is completely different than that for personal use and, although I’ve never been in a env200, they look pretty good. Like a London cab sort of concept. Big, roomy, flexible passenger area.
No 30 KWh battery option on the e-NV200 for some strange reason.
I don´t understand why Nissan is not offering a bigger battery.
I´m a C-Zero owner and I borrowed an e-NV200 for a couple of days last month and found that in mixed city/hwy driving in and around Oslo I got about the same range with the e-NV200 as with my C-Zero. Simply not enough range for Taxi use.
Too slow (max 120kmh), low range, no fast charging.
Put in a 70kWh battery, fast charger and it would be good.
It’s the only EV that I was seriously considering because it’s a 7seater.
Not sure if this was the largest electric taxi fleet deal in history: http://www.autoblog.com/2014/10/20/schiphol-airport-167-tesla-model-s-taxis-official/
My guess is bigger deals will have been done in China with domestic electric vehicles.
The BYD E6 has been ordered in a single order in quantities up to at least 1500. Lots of orders above 200 in China. And one 200 taxis order to Costa Rica(!).
But the world is too often considered to just be western europe and northern America (not North America since Costa Rica that I mentioned above is one of the 23 countries of North America)
Madrid seems to be doing very well in regard to evs. I saw a lot of leafs and other electric cars when I was there. Mostly taxis and rentals.
The NV200 should get a 70kWh battery and fast charging capabilities…and change the body while you are at it.
It does have 50 KW Chademo fast charging as standard here in Norway. Do they really sell it without fast charging in other markets?
I see. But still the old 24kWh pack or is the 30kWh leaf pack already available?
Isn’t the Leaf battery too small for Taxi service?
nah…they are smaller car so longer range +/- 200km vs the weight of the eNV200 you get +/- 165km and only 3.3kWh on board charger vs the Leaf @ 6.6kWh.
Yet again our corporately compliant media ignores China. And BYD.
Shenzhen now has 2800 BYD taxis. Each with 50% more range than the Leaf and circa 30% more interior space.
Taiyuan in N.China has over 4000(sic) BYD e6 taxis and will have over 8900(sic) by end July.
Do ” journalists” not understand how offensive it is to the Chinese to be constantly ignored/blanked by the West’s or non-Chinese so-called “journalists”.
Is it down to wilful “ignorance” , laziness, cluelessness ? Or is it part of the West’s relentless anti-Chinese, pro-Wall Street, truth-averse agenda ? The questions I’ve posed are largely rhetorical – the answers are obvious.
Tragic.
Paul G Editor Electric Vehicles UK
www_EVUK_co_uk