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Skyline's Bid To Introduce Electric Taxis To Milton Keynes


The Nissan Leaf - The future for taxis in Milton Keynes?

Skyline Taxis, the largest Private Hire operator in Milton Keynes, is bidding to add a number of 100% electric cars to their fleet in a scheme that has the potential to further establish MK as an environmentally pioneering city.

Skyline's Tom Blakeburn showed us around the car and took us for a little test drive.

A quick look under the bonnet you would struggle to tell the difference from a normal car motor. It's only when you start the engine that you begin to notice the differences.

You effectively ‘turn-on' the car, just as you would your laptop. The sound of engine revolutions is replaced with a sound similar to that plays when you start your laptop too.

While on the road you can hear the noise of the tyres on the road, but that's it. Because it's so quiet, the Leaf emits digital warning sounds to alert pedestrians, the blind, and others of its presence.

The Leaf is jam-packed with technology. There is a built-in solar panel to help charge the auxiliary battery, and the integrated Sat-Nav even lets you know where the nearest charging stations are just in case the battery level starts to get a little low.

The Nissan Leaf has a range of just over 100 miles on a full charge - enough for several trips around town. A full charge takes about 8 hours, but 30 minutes at an express charging point can give the battery an 80% top-up.

So how soon will you see the Skyline Nissan Leaf's in service? Well, that largely depends on whether the Milton Keynes Council is willing to support the project. Branding and promotion will essential for Skyline to raise the awareness of their electric taxis in Milton Keynes. However a local by-law states that any new Hackney Carriages must be wheelchair accessible, and only Hackney Carriages are allowed to carry any branding.

Provided they get the backing they need, Skyline is hoping to add around 10 Nissan Leaf electric cars to their fleet over the next few months.

source: http://www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I Guess its Plausible that what you save on Diesel/Petrol costs might just about offset the Extra Initial costs of purchasing such a Vehicle...and if you dont mind doing only about 70 fare paying miles a day it might just about pay back the cost of the Vehicle over a Couple of years...and If you didnt mind working for Zero Income to match its Zero Emmisions then buy one...

Be green but Skint.