Brazil, electric taxis

The City of São Paulo, with the Renault-Nissan, AES Eletropaulo and Adetax (Taxis Association of São Paulo), has launched a pilot program to evaluate the feasibility of using electric vehicles as taxis in the city of São Paulo.

The experience is based on the compact model Nissan Leaf, the first 100% electric vehicle manufactured world scale able to transfer energy to a home. Two units will start the practical part of the pilot program in the coming weeks by a previously established circuit in São Paulo beltway. The program includes professional drivers who have been specifically trained by Nissan do Brasil.

The program has a network load of 15 points, five fast chargers where the Leaf is reset to a maximum of 30 minutes (full load reverses conventional eight hours). Program partners will analyze in detail the needs of taxi drivers, the best places for rapid charging and maintenance and performance of a zero-emission vehicles. The autonomy of these models is 160 km.

With respect to its propulsion, the Nissan LEAF has a laminated compact lithium-ion batteries, which generate power output of over 90 kW, while its electric motor delivers 80 kW and 280 Nm of torque. Unlike the internal combustion engine, has no exhaust pipe, therefore, has no CO2 emissions or other toxic gases. A combination of the braking system and batteries allow you to have a range of up to 160 kilometers.

The charging mode can take up to thirty minutes on a fast charge and up to 80% through a 220 V outlet is estimated to take eight hours to complete the battery.

On the streets of São Paulo not only study the behavior of the electric car, but also, this pilot aims to include a charging network about fifteen points. Thus, the city of San Pablo is the first in South America to employ such policies.

At the moment, there are two units available but then added another eight that roam the streets of San Pablo.

Here i will give you 5 things that you should know about electric cars and i will expect you to come back for my next post :

1. They Don’t Drain the Grid

Believe it or not, recharging an electric car uses approximately the same amount of energy per year as the average use of 4 plasma TVs.

2. They’re more Fuel-Efficient

Gas-powered cars are roughly 20% fuel-efficient. Electric cars are about 80% fuel-efficient.

3. Refueling them is Easier on Your Wallet

Depending on your current car’s mileage per gallon, a 100-mile trip will cost you upwards of $10. One hundred miles in an electric car will set you back about $3.

4. You Can Recharge Any Time

Contrary to what’s often reported, electric cars can be charged at any time during the day or night. But it’s cheaper and cleaner to do it at night when the demand for electricity is lower and renewable power sources such as wind are feeding the grid to a greater degree. And since a full charge currently takes about eight hours, there’s no better time to fuel up than while you’re catching some z’s.

5. They’re Clean AND Green

Using less fossil fuel is inherently green. But when you consider that using an electric vehicle results in a 30% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions compared to a gas powered car, that certainly completes the planet-friendly picture.