[From January 2014]

You might be unfamiliar with the name LTI TXII, but if you’ve ever visited London you’ve probably traveled in one at some point.

It’s best known as London’s black cab or ‘Hackney Carriage’, and it’s known the world over for its iconic shape. Nissan has incorporated the black cab’s famous face onto its new London taxi–with limited success. But the real story is the electric version, which makes its debut in 2015.

Current London cabs already have a strong connection to Nissan. Towards the end of its life, the old Austin FX4 cabs used 2.7-liter Nissan diesel engines to power them around the city, and until recently a Nissan unit also powered the existing TXII. But all have been diesel, and in its crackdown against inner-city emissions–London is one of the most polluted in Europe–diesel taxis are falling out of favor.

The NV200 van, also used in New York as the ‘Taxi of Tomorrow’, will debut in London with a 1.6-liter gasoline engine and automatic gearbox to reduce oxides of nitrogen and particulates. The cab also includes some of the features found in the New York version, such as a panoramic glass roof to let fares admire the scenery.

It should be more pleasant to drive, too–current London cabs aren’t designed for a comfortable driving environment. London versions are unique among NV200s, getting an extra-tight 25-foot turning circle. This is required for all Hackney Carriages and is based off the tight entrance roundabout at the Savoy Hotel.

In 2015, an electric version of the cab will appear, based on the e-NV200 Nissan has showcased over recent years. Using a Leaf-derived drivetrain, it’ll cut those local emissions down to zero, and reduce running costs. The electric taxi will hit the streets five years before the London Mayor’s target of 2020.

Whether residents will get used to the new taxi’s face though is another matter. The NV200 is already an acquired taste–one New Yorkers will have to get used to replacing the iconic Crown Vic taxis. But equipped with a chrome grille and round headlights, designed to echo the existing cabs, we aren’t sure London’s streets will be easier on the eye…

Source: Green Car Reports

[From October 2014]

NISSAN DELIVERS FIRST ALL-ELECTRIC TAXIS TO BARCELONA AND MADRID

• Delivery marks significant milestone in the expansion of zero-emission transportation to Europe’s city centres

Madrid and Barcelona (Tuesday 21st October) – The era of the 100% electric taxi has arrived to Spain’s two largest cities, as Nissan delivered its first 100% electric taxis to Madrid and Barcelona. The introduction the Nissan electric vehicles – the Nissan LEAF to Madrid’s taxi fleet, and the e-NV200 taxi for Barcelona – brings the option of quiet, zero-emission travel to these bustling city centres.

The Barcelona deliveries served as an important step in the execution of an agreement between Nissan, the City of Barcelona, and the Barcelona Metropolitan area which brings the Barcelona-built e-NV200 to the streets of the city where the revolutionary electric van is produced.

Jean-Pierre Diernaz, Director of Electric Vehicles for Nissan Europe, welcomed the news, commenting:

“Declining air quality levels are a top concern across Europe and it’s great to see Madrid and Barcelona taking such positive steps in improving air quality through the incorporate of Nissan’s all-electric cars into their taxi fleets. These taxi bring a huge benefit not only residents but also for the drivers – thanks to the ultra-low running costs only an electric car can offer. This scheme demonstrates that sustainable transportation is easy and affordable for everyone.”

These initiatives reinforce Nissan’s continued commitment to electric vehicles as the market continues to develop. September was also the month in which 2014 sales of the pioneering family hatchback passed the 2013 total, with three months still to go.

Madrid:

Madrid has now its first 100% electric Nissan LEAF taxi, the best-selling electric vehicle in the world with more than 142,000 units sold globally. The event was held at Puerta del Sol in Madrid, where the “Zero KM” the measuring starting point of all the Spanish roads is located.

Antonio Berzal Prieto, the first 100% electric taxi driver in Madrid to choose electric technology for his business, declared

“When I heard that the Nissan LEAF had been approved as a taxi for the city, I quickly looked into all the options it offered me. In addition to the environmental benefits, the costs of ownership are highly competitive and the car’s performance is excellent.”

Barcelona:

The delivery of the first three Nissan e-NV200 Taxis took placed during the Expo-electric Formula-e event, one of the most important meetings on sustainable mobility in Europe. Marco Toro, Nissan Iberia Managing Director and Antoni Vives, Deputy Mayor for Urban Habitat at Barcelona City Council, attended the event

The development and introduction of these first three e-NV200 Taxis units is part of the Memorandum of Understanding signed last year between Nissan, the Barcelona City Council and the Barcelona Metropolitan Area, which set out a number of different and significant measures to promote and to sustain the rollout of sustainable mobility in Catalonia Region. The e-NV200 began production in Barcelona in May, with the Catalan city building the electric commercial vehicle for the global market.

Source: Nissan Newsroom

[From May 2014]

• This summer Taxi Electric becomes the first taxi company in Amsterdam to adopt the zero-emission Nissan e-NV200
• Taxi Electric first 100% Nissan LEAF fleet since November 2011
• Pioneering Amsterdam-based company have covered 1.5 million km demonstrating Nissan EVs’ quality and reliability

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands – Taxi Electric will be the first private taxi company to add the new 100-percent electric Nissan e-NV200 taxi to its green-energy zero-emission fleet.

The combination of Nissan’s innovative zero-emission technology, in the form of the 100-percent electric Nissan LEAF, and Taxi Electric’s ground-breaking city transportation model have been a recipe for success since the start of operation in 2011. Now the two companies have teamed up again to build on this success and take the next step forward by introducing the game-changing all-electric Nissan e-NV200 taxi this summer.

Amsterdam-based Taxi Electric operates a fleet of 25 Nissan LEAF vehicles. It was the first private taxi service to switch to a fleet of 100% electric taxis in 2011. The Dutch company’s fleet of Nissan LEAFs has now amassed a trouble-free 1.5 million km in taxi operations – proof of the electric vehicle’s high quality and reliability.

Andy Palmer, EVP Nissan said:

“Taxi Electric was one of the first electric taxi companies in the world, and I’ve been impressed with their progress since their launch two years ago. They were the first to prove that zero-emission taxis – in the form of Nissan LEAFs – are a viable alternative. They have covered an astonishing distance in their fleet in such a short time and have shown just how reliable our electric technology is in a demanding environment. Their pioneering spirit closely matches ours, and we are certain they will continue their success with the ground-breaking Nissan e-NV200.”

Ruud Zandvliet, founder of Taxi Electric added:

“Two years ago we started with 10 Nissan LEAFs. Each of these travelled well over 100,000 km and proved to be extremely reliable. Since last summer demand for our taxis is growing rapidly, which allowed us to double our fleet. We are very excited about the e-NV200 as it is designed to be a taxi. This will improve our offering and open new business opportunities for us.”

Taxi Electric will not be alone in making the Nissan e-NV200 part of their taxi fleet, with the city of Barcelona having signed a memorandum of understanding with Nissan to promote it as a taxi for the Spanish region. Global production of the Nissan e-NV200 begins in May this year, with sales starting in the summer.

Source: Nissan News