Electrifying public transport

Mobility is an integral part of humanity’s existence and a major contributor to greenhouse gases the world over. But the city of Barcelona, in Spain, is taking the environmental high ground as it is implementing zero-emission vehicles for accessible public transport.

To aid the metropolis in its quest, Nissan president and CEO Carlos Ghosn presented the Nissan e-NV200 electric taxi for Barcelona in Frankfurt on Tuesday, September 10, under the proud eyes of the Mayor, Xavier Trias.

The company and Spanish city signed a memorandum of understanding to promote the use of electric vehicles as taxis and delivery vehicles by improving the quick charging network and looking at a range of privileges for zero emission operators.

The e-NV200 will be built in Barcelona, joining the vehicle it’s based on – the NV200.

The electric version will be manufactured at the Zona Franca factory from mid-2014 with an investment of €100 million (R1 328 million), which will create over 700 new jobs. This facility will be the only global manufacturing plant for the e-NV200, and the units will be exported to other international urban jungles.

Ghosn says: “We applaud the city of Barcelona for making this clear commitment to integrating the revolutionary Nissan e-NV200 electric vehicle into its taxi fleet. We are delighted that the city where we will build this new vehicle is leading the way in promoting clean transportation for the benefit of all its citizens and visitors.”