InsideJapan News Network
Tuesday,
27th
April
2010
In Japan Travel News,
In Japan Travel News,
Electric taxis trialled in Tokyo
A number of electric taxis have been released onto the streets of Tokyo as part of a trial.
US firm Better Place is trialling four custom-built electric taxis in the city in a bid to encourage Japan to work on developing electric vehicles with rechargeable batteries which cab be used as taxis.
Japan is already at the forefront of the electric car sector and its largest car marker, Toyota, makes the world's most popular hybrid vehicle, the Prius.
Chief executive of Better Place Shai Agassi said that when the firm first presented the idea of chargeable car batteries, many in the car industry were unconvinced.
"Today, it is not only possible, but it is a solution that serves taxis that pick people up in the street," he told Y Net News.
The Financial Times noted that Japan may be a good place to start trialling the batteries, as the city of Tokyo alone has more cabs than London, Paris and New York combined.
Written by Kimberley Homer.
Related news stories:
Tokyo businesses celebrate Sky Tree with electric vehicle (20th April 2012)
Tokyo 'a mix of old and new' (4th February 2011)
Japanese car makers make electric pledge (16th March 2010)
Japanese car manufacturers team up (6th August 2009)
US firm Better Place is trialling four custom-built electric taxis in the city in a bid to encourage Japan to work on developing electric vehicles with rechargeable batteries which cab be used as taxis.
Japan is already at the forefront of the electric car sector and its largest car marker, Toyota, makes the world's most popular hybrid vehicle, the Prius.
Chief executive of Better Place Shai Agassi said that when the firm first presented the idea of chargeable car batteries, many in the car industry were unconvinced.
"Today, it is not only possible, but it is a solution that serves taxis that pick people up in the street," he told Y Net News.
The Financial Times noted that Japan may be a good place to start trialling the batteries, as the city of Tokyo alone has more cabs than London, Paris and New York combined.
Written by Kimberley Homer.
Related news stories:
Tokyo businesses celebrate Sky Tree with electric vehicle (20th April 2012)
Tokyo 'a mix of old and new' (4th February 2011)
Japanese car makers make electric pledge (16th March 2010)
Japanese car manufacturers team up (6th August 2009)
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