Nice photos of LEAFs pulling taxi duty in Osaka!

dhanson865 said:

Am I correct in assuming you didn't pull the trigger on this?

I can't imagine using a leaf as a taxi with no announced price or availablity for battery pack replacement.

When the range becomes limited would you be willing to recharge multiple times per shift? Or are you thinking just use it for a year or two and then sell it?

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The DCQC infrastructure in the UK is far more robust than ours, making it a fairly workable proposition. Plus you can get L2 240v charging absolutely EVERYWHERE (though I think the LEAF's trickle charger for the UK market may be limited to 8 amps).

More Taxis.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=U9cOedyUJOk

We saw LEAF taxis in Amsterdam this summer. Tough town to drive in, not sure how popular cabs are since it is much faster to use the Trams.

70 lucky taxi drivers in México have been carting passengers around in stylized Nissan LEAFs for over a year now as part of a pilot program launched in 2011.

Nissan’s objective was simple: “to showcase the car’s technology while building experience and evidence of the Nissan LEAF potential under various driving conditions in México.”

Where better to test “various driving conditions” than in the capable hands of taxi drivers?

20 Nissan LEAF taxis traverse the roads in Mexico City and the remaining 50 whiz around in the Mexican state of Aguascalientes...

Check out the video for more first-hand accounts on the performance of the Nissan LEAF as a taxi.

Click to expand...

http://insideevs.com/video-update-on-70-nissan-leaf-taxis-in-mexico/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

When I was in Japan in December, I saw quite a few LEAF Taxis and got a ride in one in Tokyo.

From Green Car Reports:

Japan's Electric Taxis Falling Out Of Favor With Drivers

"While reliable, comfortable and smooth as ever, high-mileage drivers are finding degradation of the battery packs to be an issue.

"Where a 60-mile range was once common in regular use, some are finding that cut to as low as 30 miles--and to save energy as much as possible, some drivers are shunning the car's heater in favor of chemical pocket warmers, and even blankets.

"Degradation of the battery pack has also had an effect on the battery's ability to take a quick charge. A 15-minute charge has turned into a 40-minute one for many drivers. They can't travel as far, and they can't spend as much time on the road--and it's ruining business, for some. Customers requesting longer trips are even being turned down."

Full article here:

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1082483_japans-electric-taxis-falling-out-of-favor-with-drivers" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

GRA said:

Japan's Electric Taxis Falling Out Of Favor With Drivers

Click to expand...

Yeah, Nissan booked several taxis to get us back from headquarters to our hotel one night, one being a LEAF. Our driver in a different vehicle told us he spoke with the LEAF driver while waiting for us and he had told him he needed more range.

It seems like range degradation is hitting a a little closer to Nissan's home now. I think that will go a long way toward getting their attention.

RegGuheert said:

It seems like range degradation is hitting a a little closer to Nissan's home now. I think that will go a long way toward getting their attention.

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Well, as many have said before, if it wasn't for the vocal few in Phoenix, everybody would be happy. And to quote Christopher Lynt, those few Arizona gripers probably work for Big Oil and want an egg in their beer. But in all seriousness, this is why it’s so crucial for Nissan to announce battery pack replacement prices. The new capacity warranty won't see much action outside of select few locales. Kudos to Phil Keys for spotting the story on Japan Today.

GRA said:

From Green Car Reports:

..."Where a 60-mile range was once common in regular use, some are finding that cut to as low as 30 miles...
Full article here:

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1082483_japans-electric-taxis-falling-out-of-favor-with-drivers" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Click to expand...

Very sad that a site that calls itself "Green Car Reports" would publish this FUD.

Obviously, IF any LEAF has lost half its available battery capacity, it requires a replacement battery pack.

For Taxi duty, the high fixed labor costs of the driver per hour, would indicate that battery capacity loss is less acceptable than for most private BEVs, and acceptable range loss prior to replacement is also lesser.

However, unless those cabs which are reported to have lost half their range have actually have driven in excess of 80,000 to 100,000 miles, I think we will probably learn (eventually) that this this report has the same BS content as did those reports published last Summer, claiming that many or most Arizona LEAFs had lost half of their range.

parallel thread here. ya, what they dont say is that taxi's wait how long between fares? betting more than enough time to charge.

the pix shown apparently dont allow taxi's to charge and maintain their line in the queue?? if so, a mistake and "nearly" impossible to fix i would imagine :?

considering you have several dozen cars idling away, i think it would be in the city's interest to resolve this issue.

another thing to mention. in all the taxi's i rode in while in Japan. have to say the average age was 15+ years old and OLDER

it still boils down to what we are willing to do to make it work. a change in the taxi's queueing process seems to be about it. its not like the average taxi fare distance is 30+ miles.

our taxi ride from the hotel ACROSS the court to Yokohama taxi stand was about $12. sure they took the roundabout route of say 3-4 miles but guessing the average taxi trip is less than 15 miles. more than enough range to go there, drop off, pick up. return to taxi stand and charge while waiting for next fare.

to get an idea of the queue at these stand, look at pix posted on the "11 bars" thread

edatoakrun said:

GRA said:

From Green Car Reports:

..."Where a 60-mile range was once common in regular use, some are finding that cut to as low as 30 miles...
Full article here:

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1082483_japans-electric-taxis-falling-out-of-favor-with-drivers" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Click to expand...

Very sad that a site that calls itself "Green Car Reports" would publish this FUD.

Obviously, IF any LEAF has lost half its available battery capacity, it requires a replacement battery pack.

Click to expand...

There was some discussion of the Japan Today story on SF BayLeafs FB page.

Microsoft in Redmond, WA had (not sure if they still have) at least 2 Leafs as campus shuttles, in addition to MANY other vehicles. A friend of mine talked to one of the drivers and was told that winter performance (he's referring to range/battery depletion) is extremely poor because the doors open and close all the time. So, a lot of power is used in heating/reheating the cabin. That could be likely making things worse for those Japanese Leaf taxis in winter, in addition to degradation and poor cold weather perf of the batteries.

cwerdna said:

edatoakrun said:

GRA said:

From Green Car Reports:

..."Where a 60-mile range was once common in regular use, some are finding that cut to as low as 30 miles...
Full article here:

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1082483_japans-electric-taxis-falling-out-of-favor-with-drivers" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Click to expand...

Very sad that a site that calls itself "Green Car Reports" would publish this FUD.

Obviously, IF any LEAF has lost half its available battery capacity, it requires a replacement battery pack.

Click to expand...

There was some discussion of the Japan Today story on SF BayLeafs FB page.

Microsoft in Redmond, WA had (not sure if they still have) at least 2 Leafs as campus shuttles, in addition to MANY other vehicles. A friend of mine talked to one of the drivers and was told that winter performance (he's referring to range/battery depletion) is extremely poor because the doors open and close all the time. So, a lot of power is used in heating/reheating the cabin. That could be likely making things worse for those Japanese Leaf taxis in winter, in addition to degradation and poor cold weather perf of the batteries.

Click to expand...

Yes, and it's not exactly an option to tell a fare, "hey, we can't use the heater if you want to get to your destination. Just hold onto these chemical heating pads instead."

DaveinOlyWA said:

another thing to mention. in all the taxi's i rode in while in Japan. have to say the average age was 15+ years old and OLDER

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The taxis may not have been as old as you think. I've visited Japan 4x between 01 and 09. I avoided taking taxis there because they're known to be very expensive but seen plenty on the road and have ridden in a few. They might just LOOK old inside and out because of their outdated styling.

I can't claim to know the JDM cars well, but many taxis I noticed are Toyota (Crown?) Comfort (http://toyota.jp/comfort/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, http://toyota.jp/crowncomfort/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Crown_Comfort" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false and Nissan Cedrics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Cedric#Seventh_generation_Y31" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, http://www.nissan.co.jp/CEDRIC/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and http://www.nissan.co.jp/CEDRIC/equip.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false. Unfortunately, I can't read Japanese, but some of pages work with http://translate.google.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

Be sure to click thru the links on the left side of the Nissan and Toyota pages I linked to. You'll see what looks like rather retro/outdated interiors and dashes. Examples:

http://toyota.jp/crowncomfort/spec/spec/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://toyota.jp/crowncomfort/navi-audio/audio/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://toyota.jp/comfort/spec/spec/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://toyota.jp/crowncomfort/interior_exterior/crew/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; even shows what looks like a taxi.

http://www.nissan.co.jp/CEDRIC/interior.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.nissan.co.jp/CEDRIC/equip.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - check out the radio, HVAC panels and shape of the interior bits around the parking brake handle

http://www.toyota-ej.co.jp/english/products/car.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and http://www.toyota-global.com/company/history_of_toyota/75years/data/automotive_business/production/production/japan/general_status/toyota_motor_east_japan.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; seems to confirm that those outdated looking Toyotas are still being made.

It would be interesting if someone who's lived in Japan for a long time and has more knowledge of the taxi fleet there would chime in. Perhaps I should start a separate thread for that.

opencar said:

Herm said:

They may be using L3 charging if required, and L2 overnight.

Are the rain gutters on the windows standard?, never noticed them before.

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I've been wanting to buy these window guards for a year now; anyone got a contact in Japan that can grab some of these? no luck on finding any source online.

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Anyone find any US or Japan suppliers for window rain guards yet?

Dave

i did find a place finally:
http://www.japanparts.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

i have them installed & tho they look good i had hoped they would have decreased the reverb problem at 40-50 mph but no dice.