Mexico's first electric taxis

Mexico's capital has taken delivery of the country's first all-electric taxi cabs under an agreement to promote eco-friendly vehicle use between Japan-headquartered Nissan Motor and the local government.
May 1, 2012 Read time: 1 min
UniCredit Mexico's capital has taken delivery of the country's first all-electric taxi cabs under an agreement to promote eco-friendly vehicle use between Japan-headquartered 2454 Nissan Motor and the local government.The government of Mexico City intends to provide incentives such as excluding electric vehicles from the emissions verification programme, waiving yearly car registration, permitting them to travel in special lanes and offering preferential parking spots in a bid to encourage usage of electric vehicles. By the end of this year, the programme plans to deploy 100 new electric vehicles and a second quick-charge station.Marcelo Ebrard, Mayor of Mexico City, together with Nissan and US-based 3500 General Electric, the supplier of the quick-charge equipment, launched the first three taxis into operational service last week. Increased use of electric vehicles in the city will certainly help reduce the eye-wateringly high smog levels. However whether battery powered vehicles will appeal to more than a handful of Mexico City's notoriously pedal-to-the-metal cab drivers remains to be seen.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • UK testing electric car charging system
    August 11, 2015
    The UK is working on plans to develop contactless charging systems for electric vehicles. Trials of the technology will be carried out on test routes away from the public highway to test the systems. The technology will be able to recharge electric and hybrid vehicles. The aim of the project is to develop sound technologies that can then be installed on England’s major roads. These trials are the first of their kind and will investigate how the technology would work safely and effectively on the country’s m
    Read More
  • EU project looks at highway parking areas
    February 24, 2012
    Under the EU-funded LABEL project there will be an analysis of secure trucking stops. The European Union Road Federation (ERF) - International Road Federation (IRF), Brussels Programme Centre, looks at what it can achieve Whenever we have to travel long distances by car we are faced with the prospect of having to stop in order to refuel our vehicle and to rest a bit. As a consequence motorways can boast the presence of a high number of service stations, usually spread out at 20 to 30km intervals, ready to
    Read More
  • Challenges of NMT in Nairobi, Dar es Salaam
    September 13, 2016
    Developing safety for non-motorised transport in East Africa - Shem Oirere writes. Despite increasing national budgetary allocations for the road sector in recent years, governments in East Africa have made very low investments in non-motorised transport (NMT). This is despite the fact that both Kenya and Uganda have recently passed a policy on pedestrian and cycling safety. In Kenya, the County government of Nairobi, the country’s capital, has embraced a NMT policy, while in Uganda the government has passe
    Read More
  • Engine improvements for decarbonisation
    June 5, 2024
    As the need for decarbonisation becomes more pressing, engine firms are looking ahead to the next step for power systems, writes Mike Woof.
    Read More

Highlighted Content