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LOCATION: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture
DELIVERY: February 2011
VEHICLE GRADE: G
BODY COLOR: Super Black
NO. OF VEHICLES PURCHASED: 1
USE: Taxi service
Fukuoka Nishitetsu Taxi purchased an all-electric Nissan LEAF for commerical use as a taxi, prompted by the soaring cost of fuel and the desire to promote an eco-friendly initiative as a corporate activity.
The company looked at EVs of other manufacturers, but decided on a Nissan LEAF because the driving range and passenger capacity met its requirements, along with the zero emission technology and remarkably low operating cost.
The company still was rather perplexed on how to use the Nissan LEAF effectively upon acquisition.
“It would be difficult for an electric vehicle to cruise around town looking for customers, so we mainly have the car wait at a predetermined location,” said Tatsuo Nagao, Deputy General Manager of Fukuoka Nishitetsu Taxi
“There is a hotel in the Tenjin entertainment district of Fukuoka operated by a company in our corporate group, and that’s one place where our taxis have their highest operating rates, so we generally assign the LEAF to pick up customers there.”
The LEAF picks up customers up to 15 times a day on average, but its service hours are shorter than an LPG-fueled taxi due to efficient energy use.
After putting the Nissan LEAF into service, the company received many inquiries mainly from corporate customers, following a local newspaper report.
Customers who do not know the car is an EV or that it is a Nissan LEAF are initially amazed at the taxi’s quietness. Those who know it’s a Nissan LEAF have questions such as: “How far can it drive?” “How fast does it go?” “How do you charge the battery?” “What’s the acceleration like?” and “How does it handle?”
There is no end to conversation once on board the LEAF.
Customers often say they are happy for the chance to ride in a Nissan LEAF, and all are impressed with its zero emission technology.
But what about the operating cost?
“The operating cost is remarkably low at about one-fourth as much as LPG-fueled taxis,” Nagao said.
Further efforts are needed to obtain maximum benefit from the car’s low operating costs, such as to drive longer distances, which means more night driving.
Fukuoka Nishitetsu Taxi is considering the purchase of more Nissan LEAFs, coming as more EV charging stations become available."
Em: http://www.nissan-zeroemission.com/EN/L ... ce_02.html