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The purpose-built cars that can run on easily swapped batteries—rather than wait to be recharged or switch to other fuels—were launched in Tokyo by Japan’s energy agency.<\/p>\n
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Three cars based on the Nissan Dualis will operate as normal taxis on the city’s streets during the 90-day experiment, a joint project with Better Place<\/a>, a U.S. firm specializing in providing electric vehicle infrastructure.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Tokyo can become the capital of electric vehicles,” said Kiyotaka Fujii, president of the Japanese unit of Better Place.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ordinary Tokyo taxis can clock up as many as 185 miles a day, the company says, and the city is by far the world’s largest taxi market with 60,000 cabs—more than New York, Paris, and London combined.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n While taxis represent only 2 percent of all passenger vehicles in Tokyo, they emit about 20 percent of all carbon dioxide from vehicles.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “By building a good business model, we believe this technology can have a significant impact on the economy and society,” said Japanese energy agency official Minoru Nakamura.<\/p>\n Related Links:<\/strong><\/p>\n Oil rig leak and the week in fossil-fuel industry disasters<\/a><\/p>\n Rooftop farming and beekeeping boom in New York<\/a><\/p>\n ‘Green tea party’ closes out U.S. Earth Day celebrations<\/a><\/p>\n