Cities across Europe are going through a quiet revolution as taxi companies start to shift from conventional diesel-powered cabs to zero-emission - and near-silent - Nissan LEAF taxis.

The world's best-selling electric vehicle (EV) is fast becoming the taxi drivers' favourite too; attracted by lower running costs and fuelled by a desire to reduce airborne pollution in city centres.

To celebrate Earth Day, Nissan and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg today launched a new electric vehicle taxi pilot with the world’s bestselling electric car, Nissan LEAF. This pilot program, which puts six LEAF taxis into service beginning this spring, will help Nissan, the city, the taxi industry and the public understand how zero emission vehicles can be integrated into future taxi fleets.

New York City is switching on to the benefits of electric vehicles. In his 12^th – and final – State of the City address, Mayor Michael Bloomberg pledged to make NYC a national leader in zero emission mobility with a number of EV-friendly proposals.

Among the plans are:

• A network of street-side fast chargers

The city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil will this month become the latest city in the world to start operating a zero emission taxi fleet thanks to a three-way a partnership among the Rio de Janeiro City Government, Nissan in Brazil and Petrobras Distribuidora. In the first phase of the program, two100% electric Nissan LEAF taxis will be available in Rio. By the end of the year, 13 more units will be added to the fleet.

The first two Nissan LEAF taxis will be available at the Santos Dumont airport stand. Their batteries will be recharged at two Petrobras service stations at the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon and in the Barra da Tijuca area.

Zero-emission Nisan LEAF electric taxis ready to clean up the streets of Switzerland’s finance capital