Nissan is leading the electric revolution with more than 550 electric taxis now on the road in Europe. Taxi drivers are some of the most demanding users with the highest mileage, reinforcing the reliability and versatility of Nissan electric vehicles.
During 2015 alone, over 100 electric vehicles were delivered to taxi companies across Europe, making Nissan the best-selling manufacturer of 100% electric taxis. The growth of the electric taxi market looks set to continue, as its popularity has started to take hold in Eastern Europe. Green Lite Taxi Kft., based in Budapest, has purchased 65 Nissan LEAFs in a bid to become Hungary’s largest zero emission fleet. To power its pioneering franchise, CEO Örs Lévay has installed seven quick chargers within the city.
In Estonia, it has been reported that a Nissan LEAF owned by taxi company, Elektritakso, has clocked up over 218,000 kilometres (135,459 miles) on its original battery pack, showcasing the high quality and reliability of Nissan’s electric vehicle range. In total, there are 80 electric taxis and counting in Estonia, whilst in Lithuania, Nissan is poised to deliver its first eight 100 per cent electric taxis to the Smart Taxi Company, based in the country’s capital, Vilnius, for late 2015.
What’s more, with the launch of the new 30 kWh Nissan LEAF, drivers can travel 25 percent further making it an even more practical choice for taxi companies.
Nissan electric vehicles – which include the Nissan LEAF and the e-NV200, a passenger and light commercial vehicle – are becoming increasingly popular among European taxi businesses, with the Netherlands and the UK topping Nissan’s e-taxi league table.
Top five e-taxi countries in Europe by registrations:
| Country | Nissan LEAF | Nissan e-NV200 | Total number of Nissan e-taxis | |
| 1. | Netherlands | 27 | 167 | 194 |
| 2. | UK | 124 | 10 | 134 |
| 3. | Estonia | 74 | 0 | 74 |
| 4. | Hungary | 68 | 0 | 68 |
| 5. | Germany | 24 | 6 | 30 |
Taxi Electric in Amsterdam was the first private taxi service to switch to a fleet of 100 percent electric taxis in November 2011. Since then, others from across Europe have joined the revolution, with the Nissan LEAF and e-NV200 now being used by taxi businesses in Stockholm, Prague, Barcelona and Rome.
With running costs as low as 2p per mile, companies like C&C Taxis, based in rural South West England have saved more than £55,397 on average each year across its range of EV taxis. One of a growing number of businesses across Europe using Nissan electric vehicles in its company fleet, C&C Taxis proves that Nissan electric vehicles operate reliably as taxis with huge cost savings and a significant reduction in their carbon footprint.
The 100% electric Nissan LEAF saw a lift in overall sales of 33 percent in 2014, compared to the previous year. With fewer moving parts, Nissan’s electric vehicles offer estimated maintenance costs up to 40 percent lower than petrol or diesel alternatives. Furthermore, European owners can also benefit from various incentives such as no business tax or vehicle excise duty on zero emission vehicles.
Nissan celebrates this all-important milestone some five years after the launch of the Nissan LEAF, the world’s first mass-market, zero emission vehicle and just one year since the launch of its 100 percent electric e-NV200 light commercial vehicle. Nissan LEAF remains the best-selling electric vehicle of all time, with more than 195,000 units sold worldwide.
