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From January 2010, Tokyo Taxis are going green!
Of course this doesnt not mean that all taxis in Tokyo are going green but significantly a select number will lead the way. There is a pilot project using the Better Place’s infrastructure in Roppongi Hills and Central Tokyo that will test how effective mass mobilisation of this technology could be.

The Japanese government has commissioned the vehicle service provider Better Place to test the world’s first electric taxis with switchable batteries.

The California-based company, Better Place, will partner with Tokyo’s largest taxi operator, Nihon Kotsu in a project that will start in January 2010.

Better Place to launch Taxis in Tokyo

This is the cab giving us a little demo via youtube.

I suppose one of the key issues for the cabbies will be the impact on business costs and earnings. Going greener will no doubt be more beneficial for the environment, but how will it effect the taxi drivers bottom line? Will it in fact be a more economical option given that the price of fuel has been quite volatile?

Press release from Better Place explains

Japanese taxis represent approximately two per cent of all passenger vehicles in Japan but twenty per cent of all CO2. Tokyo R&D Company, a specialist in automotive engineering and production, will supply the cars based on commercially-available vehicles, with the necessary battery latch mechanisms and switchable batteries. The company will also be involved with building the battery switch site, and provide diagnostic software for the pilot. The vehicles will be put into standard taxi service by the Nihon Kotsu taxi company.

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