Nissan’s electric vehicles (EVs) have now clocked up more than three million miles as taxis in the UK. The fleet, which consists of more than 140 Leaf and e-NV200 Combi models, passed the landmark figure this month, proving that EVs can be used successfully as taxis across the country.
The number of Nissan EV taxis on the road is only set to increase, with more orders already in the pipeline from taxi and private hire operators looking to replace petrol or diesel models with vehicles that are cleaner and cheaper to run.
Had the same distance been covered in a conventional diesel-powered taxi, it would have cost around £350,000 in fuel. Instead, with the three million electric miles the equivalent of driving around the world 120 times, 899 tonnes of carbon have been saved and fuel costs for the Nissan taxis will have amounted to around £60,000 – saving considerably more than a quarter of a million pounds.
The three million mile figure has come from the accumulated EV total of the six largest Nissan taxi fleets in the UK. These are Phoenix Taxis in Blyth, C&C Taxis in Cornwall, Premier Cabs in Blackpool, 203020 Electric in Dundee, eConnect Cars in London and eCorporate Travel in Edinburgh.
With a number of other smaller fleets and independent operators also using Nissan EVs, the actual figure is certain to be much higher.
Highlights of the fleet’s use include:
- 203020 Electric in Dundee surpassed one million pure EV taxi miles in less than one year with its fleet of 30 Nissan Leafs
- At least four Leaf taxis have passed the 100,000 mile mark with more than 30 having covered over 30,000 miles
- The first Leaf put into service by C&C Taxis in Cornwall passed 100,000 miles without losing a single bar of battery life and on its first set of brake pads.
- The average Nissan EV taxi is rapid charged hundreds of times a year with minimal degradation.
- Many Nissan EV taxi drivers are taking home thousands of pounds extra per year as a result of fuel savings. At 203020 Electric, in Dundee, for example, drivers are between £120 and £130 a week better off.
Karl Anders, National EV Manager at Nissan Motor (GB) Ltd, said: “There can now be absolutely no doubt that the Nissan LEAF and e-NV200 make brilliant taxis. Operators across the UK have put them to the ultimate test – running them 24/7 and rapid charging them time and time again to keep them on the road and making money.
“And no matter what challenges the vehicles have faced they have come up trumps. As a result, we’ve seen more and more taxi operators, seriously looking into electric vehicles as their existing diesel and petrol vehicles come up for replacement. This is a trend we expect to continue and accelerate as the charging infrastructure across the country continues to expand.”
