New York may have a lot of Yellow Cabs but Japan takes the cake when it comes to sheer numbers. In Tokyo alone, there are approximately 60,000 taxis, more than in New York, Paris, and London combined! While taxis represent a mere two percent of all passenger vehicles in Tokyo, they emit about 20 percent of all carbon dioxide (CO2) from vehicles, due to their high-mileage use.

Starting last week, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry “commissioned Better Place to conduct a demonstration of the company’s battery switch technology, in partnership with Nihon Kotsu, Tokyo’s largest taxi operator, in a real-world application with taxis that will be in service nearly around-the-clock for a 90-day period.” The press release from Better Place, which includes videos, goes on to explain the test run in more detail. “The battery switch technology demonstrated in the Tokyo Electric Taxi Project allows taxi drivers to exchange a depleted battery with a fully charged one in less time then it takes to fill up at an LPG station. This enables the drivers to return to service with minimal downtime and makes electric taxis a viable option for taxi operators, which in turn benefits urban communities by removing a significant portion of harmful tailpipe emissions.”

This trial is the next step in eventually testing all the components of the Better Place system in Israel later this year. The EV charging network was tested early this year in Denmark. If you’re in Japan, the taxis will be available at the Roppongi Hills Complex in the taxi line reserved for environmentally friendly vehicles.

- Justin Manger

[Battery switch photo source]
[Taxi photo source]