Blog of RENAULT NISSAN Alliance

A visitor to this Dutch capital city also soon recognizes it as the electric vehicle taxi capital of the world.

 

Taxi Electric, Connexxion and TCA operate more than 170 Nissan LEAF and e-NV200 electric vehicles for private hire by hotel and airport clientele, businesses, and those with restricted mobility.

 

The growing trend in EVs as public transport saves businesses money and helps Amsterdam and Holland meet sustainability goals, while reducing air pollution.

 

So how did it begin?

 

“In 2011, we started Taxi Electric being the first fully-electric taxi company in Amsterdam,” says Taxi Electric co-founder Edvard Hendriksen. “We started this company because we wanted to have a major impact in this city.”

 

And it has. Taxi Electric’s three LEAF vehicles have grown into a fleet of 22.

 

Hendriksen said local and national subsidies for EVs – a total of 10,000 euro per vehicle – and the lower cost of maintenance and electricity reduces the cost per kilometer compared with standard taxis.

 

TCA now has fifty e-NV200 vehicles as part of their fleet of 1,300 taxis. Chief Financial Officer Richard Olling says TCA’s EV program, now in its second month, is steadily gaining attention, resulting in more trips and profit for drivers.

 

“Sustainability is a big issue for TCA and we try to make models for our drivers to make also sustainability profitable…The demand for electric vehicles and zero emission vehicles will be much bigger. We think it’s the future,” he says.

 

Holland has the highest density of charging stations. Each month the city adds 25 new charging points, aiming for a total of 4,000 in 2018. It is all part of Amsterdam’s goal to be emission-free by 2025. 

 

Connexxion, Europe’s largest public transport company, just purchased one-hundred e-NV200 vehicles.

 

“This sustainability agenda is not just ours. We see with government and local communities that cities want to switch over to more sustainability, and by delivering an active approach that we are able to win more contracts,” says Connexxion CEO Bart Schmeink.

 

Find out more from the video below.