Nissan has unveiled its NV200 London taxi, which promises to be 50% more fuel efficient than alternative vehicles.
The NV200 taxi has already been launched in Tokyo and chosen as the ‘taxi of tomorrow’ for New York City and Nissan is hoping the vehicle will be adopted in London too.
The diesel vehicle, which is based on Nissan’s NV200 compact van, should achieve 53.3 mpg according to the company, saving taxi drivers around £700 a year on fuel compared to the current TX4 model.
The taxi’s Euro V engine only emits up to 138 g/km of CO2, compared with 209 g/km from the best current model. An all-electric NV200 model will follow, starting trials in London next year.
“Nissan already has a great footing in the London taxi market – the 2.7-litre diesel that featured in some of the early taxis was one of the greatest engines ever put in a cab. From what I’ve seen of the 200 London Taxi, it ticks all the right boxes,” says Steve McNamara, General Secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association.
The new London ‘black cab’ meets Transport for London’s (TfL) requirements and could significantly reduce CO2 emissions, as well as nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate pollution, as part of Mayor Boris Johnson’s air quality improvement strategy.
“Having taken the significant step of introducing the first age limit for taxis in London, I am absolutely delighted that manufacturers are stepping up to the plate and are responding to the challenge I set in my air quality strategy to reduce taxi emissions and improve efficiency,” commented Johnson.
The widespread adoption of the NV200 will depend on its price when it comes to market, he added.
For further information:
www.nissan-global.com/
www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/businessandpartners/taxi-conditions-of-fitness.pdf
Related stories:
Nissan to produce electric van in Barcelona (29-May)
Fuel-efficient Nissan NV200 chosen as New York’s taxi of tomorrow (5-May 2011)
Article source: http://www.energyefficiencynews.com/i/5309/
