TESTING OF NISSAN EV YELLOW CAB-----Carl Schwab

In November of 2010, I wrote a blog about the direction cabs for use in NYC was taking. A commission was set up with the mission of defining the physical arrangement for the future Cabs in NYC----and I feel from the functionality standpoint they have done a good job. Both the Nissan NV200 and the Ford Transit Connect are FWD with a 4-cylinder ICE and 6-speeed automatic transmission. Both have sliding van-type doors for passenger access from either side. Both have split rear doors for access for passenger baggage including space for a folding wheel chair. Both have conventional doors for front seat access both left (for the driver) and right for a fourth passenger. Both claim to handle 4 passengers + their baggage.

It seems just recently that the writer is NOT the only one seeing the comparative advantage of EV, Electric Only, to gasoline or diesel. Nissan has provided EV vehicles to NYC for evaluation as cabs. Nissan had won the mayor’s approval for its NV200 design albeit powered by a conventional ICE. The writer finds it interesting that Ford’s Transit Connect NY cab version that is runner-up to the Nissan NV200 may very well also be being evaluated using the EV package that Ford is using in the 2012 Ford FOCUS.

AN ASIDE-------The EV cars to be effective need a reliable and affordable source for the battery packs. In the May 31^st issue of WSJ, section B, and article entitled “Car Battery Start-Ups Fizzle” appeared. Summarized it states that the Obama Administration plans to force “production capability” in the US is NOT doing well. What it seems to say that merely throwing money at a project without any real planning is yielding poor results. It would appear that the government’s projection for the market development is totally unrealistic. It seems to be the usual problem where the government grants money and then proceeds to detail how it will be spent and what the results will be. Reality is setting in and the money has been largely misspent—wasted.

Nominally there are 13,000 cabs in NYC and the estimated daily usage in an 8-hour shift is 180 miles. Using the 100 mile as a guide suggests that each cab will need 1 recharge to complete the 8-hour tour. Apparently that is what is being developed in the testing being done in NYC---how to organize it. A level(III) charger can recharge the NV200 in 20 minutes----but how to best organize this is the question. Without doubt it is the fact that CPM, Cost Per Mile, so heavily favors the EV that some accommodation will be worked out.

Interesting----------

Comments

[used car dealers]

I sure hope they perfect the EV cab soon. That will be a lot of carbon emissions gone if they do.

[honda civic 2005]

I love your idea of having a little stack of card for the car that the kids could pick out for the ride home! Brilliant!!! Thank you for taking the time to read and leave this lovely comment. I am SO glad you’re here!!!