Señor Victor Juarez G. gives EV World an exclusive briefing on the soon-to-be-announced electric taxi program in Mexico City.
Open Access Article Originally Published: February 10, 2008
Mexico City has a law: no public taxis can be older than 10 years. If they are, they must be replaced.
For Señor Victor Juarez G. and his associates in the world's second largest city, that presents them with an opportunity. If -- and that's a big IF -- all the licensed and "gypsy" (unlicensed) cab operators in the city comply with the edict, in 2008 some 30,000 taxis -- many of them antiquated VW Beetles -- will have to be retired.
Now Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico City's would-be 'green' mayor, is mandating that from the first 30,000, ten percent of these replacements will be hybrids (only the Honda Civic Hybrid is sold in Mexico), 10 percent will be fueled by compressed natural gas and 10% will be battery-powered electric cars.
In reality, however, Juarez G. doesn't believe any hybrids will be bought because they cost nearly $8,000 more in Mexico than the regular gas version. Cab operators won't be able to justify the added cost, which opens up the possibility for the introduction of more electric versions.
Electric taxis aren't a new idea. Some of the very first commercial motor vehicles in history where electric taxi cabs that operated in Philadelphia and New York in the 1890s.
More than a century later, a battery electric taxi was tested in New York City with discouraging results [NYC Electric Taxi Can't Hack It]. The converted Chrysler PT Cruiser was equipped with Kokam lithium polymer batteries, which should have been up to the challenge, leading to speculation that either the technology employed was faulty or the parties involved didn't want the experiment to succeed... or maybe both.
Regardless of the reasons, Juarez G. is convinced that modern electric taxis -- properly done -- can be successful in Mexico City where the average cabby drives about 200 km (107 mi) per day and cold winter weather isn't as much of a challenge. Working in cooperation with the RUTAS UNIDAS association of bus and cab operators, his colleagues at Electro Autos Eficaces de Mexico (EAE) -- led by Mr. Luis Pérez Quintana -- and Azure Dynamics (AZD) -- headed by their new CEO Scott Harrison -- plunged into the development of a Nissan Sentra taxi conversion powered by an AZD 20kW AC Direct Drive and Kokam energy packs.
Called eLECTROTAXI ®, it is similar to the one found on their first conversion project, Numero Uno, which is now in Tampa, Florida for demonstrations to local officials.
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Reader Comments
5 comments so far...
14-Feb-2008
60354
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In North America the Mexican Government is taking more positive steps by changing it's cars to Electric Vehicles - Zero Emission Vehicles - than Canada or the US.
Shame on Canada and the US Governments
Posted by: Jeff Kenley
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10-Feb-2008
60300
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Kokam just might have something there. The US might start buying some from Mexico!
IE in this car over at EVS 23, is equipped with 21 kWh Kokam lithium polymer batteries, giving it an operational range of about 135 miles and the ability to rapid charge in under one hour.
Posted by: jim stack
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10-Feb-2008
60304
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I really hope this project is successful! I am still confused why we cannot broker such an arrangement in other countries...I guess it takes someone with vision for the greater good of society rather than a vision for how to put one over on others. 8-(
Posted by: Eddie
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10-Feb-2008
60306
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Altairnano batteries are made by Kokam.
Phoenix (%17 own by Altairnano) signed LOI with Pristine Int and VW of Mexico to build Electric cars for Mexico, South America and India.
Evtaxi.com Evcab.info
Taxiev.com
Posted by: Zan Zolit
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12-Feb-2008
60324
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One of the biggest obstacles for putting electric highway-capable vehicles on the road TODAY, is over-claims and speculative announcements without solid backing.
While last November there was a press release of the Phoenix 'deal' with Pristine (a small stockbroking especulative outfit) and Mr. Lorden (a former Mexican restaurant owner) mentioning Puebla Governor, plant building, etc. This are the facts:
1. Two weeks after the announcement, at EVS 23, there was not a single piece of information in Phoenix booth, nor a single word from Phoenix representatives. And a tightly closed hood on the floor car, due to change of suppliers.
2. After a three year intense development phase, Phoenix
drop strategic partners UQM - the reputed electric drive manufacturer - and Boshart Engineering - the firm that provided them a solid integration of product and a CEO, Dan Elliot- abruptly, on a moment's notice. The company has not announced replacement for these strategic partners,
although it has stated to a few journalists, that they have new investors of 'undisclosed sums'.
3. We have been all waiting for Tesla and Phoenix TO SUCCEED, it is of paramount importance for the whole plug In electric vehicle development and acceptance. Tesla is inching towards delivery, Phoenix is back to the drawing board with unknown tech partners, aside from Mr. Alan Gotcher, who is really waging an heroic task, on the car and energy pack fronts.
4. While, all of us involved in EV promotion, production and deployment have to issue 'forward looking statements' it is a disservice to disseminate inaccurate and downright false information. It will only make matters much more difficult for the whole EV endeavor.
By the way, Victor Juárez G. is my real and only name, I don't use avatars or nicknames and I'm readily available just by asking around in the US EV industry.
Posted by: Victor Juarez G.
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