Gay Nagle Myers
Mexico City’s first all-electric Nissan Leaf taxicabs hit the capital city’s streets in late September, as part of an agreement between the automaker and the local government to promote the use of electric vehicles in one of the world’s smoggiest and most populated metropolitan areas.
The first quick-charge station also opened, where drivers pull in, charge up and get back on the road quickly.
Three taxis were in the initial fleet, but a total of 100 are expected by year’s end.
The Leaf is a four-door hatchback that runs entirely on an electric motor, with a maximum range of 100 miles per charge.
Nissan said that the fleet of 100 Leaf taxis, based on a daily taxi run of 180 miles, would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by five tons per day.
Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard has championed the use of alternative forms of transportation through programs such as the share-bicycle Eco-Bici, where bikes can be picked up or dropped off with a smart card at stations in the downtown area.
Leaf taxis currently are in use in New York, Toronto, Belfast, Osaka and other cities, according to Nissan.