Nissan NV200 NYC minivan taxi

[cwerdna]

NYC Taxi Operators Sue TLC, Mayor Bloomberg Over Nissan NV200 Taxi of Tomorrow:
http://wot.motortrend.com/nyc-taxi-operators-sue-tlc-mayor-bloomberg-over-nissan-nv200-taxi-of-tomorrow-302961.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

New York City taxi operators are suing the city over new rules that make the Nissan NV200 New York’s official taxi for a decade, starting in late 2013. SEE UPDATE BELOW.
...
The lawsuit, filed by the Committee for Taxi Safety, and Taxifleet Management names the City of New York, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC), and TLC commissioner David Yassky as defendants in the lawsuit.

Edited title.

 

[RegGuheert]

I guess I kinda side with the plaintiffs on this one.

The automaker has also  built a test track dubbed “New York Avenue” at its Arizona proving grounds, which replicates the city’s driving conditions to make sure the NV200 can withstand the punishment New York streets dole out.

I wonder how they duplicate New York's weather.

 

[palmermd]

I guess I kinda side with the plaintiffs on this one.

Me too. Let it compete with the other options, and if they want this as their preferred, then give the drivers some incentive, but don't force it on them.

 

[GRA]

I guess I kinda side with the plaintiffs on this one.

The automaker has also  built a test track dubbed “New York Avenue” at its Arizona proving grounds, which replicates the city’s driving conditions to make sure the NV200 can withstand the punishment New York streets dole out.

I wonder how they duplicate New York's weather.

I'm sure Nissan has done just as good a job testing the NV200 in NYC conditions as they did with the Leaf's battery in Phoenix conditions, so what could possibly go wrong? :roll:

 

[Herm]

Why does NYC want all their taxis to look the same?.. make them all different (including colors) for variety.

 

[TonyWilliams]

What's the story with this?

"the NV200 uses a 2.0-liter 135-hp I-4"

I thought it was a LEAF chassis / battery / motor?

 

[surfingslovak]

It looks like they will offer an electrified, as well as, traditional ICE version. I, too, initially thought that an all-electric will be mandated by the city, but this does not appear to be the case. Chatted about it with someone from Nissan at the Fuel Cell Partnership. He seemed to be very excited about the project, and I learned a few details I didn't know (nothing that would require an NDA).

I think that it makes sense overall, and hope that we will see electrified cabs in significant numbers, although I can understand if there was some trepidation.

 

[cwerdna]

It looks like they will offer an electrified, as well as, traditional ICE version. I, too, initially thought that an all-electric will be mandated by the city, but this does not appear to be the case.

Right.... when the news initially came out, I'm pretty sure that virtually all of these taxis would be ICE only at first. I think they were thinking of rolling out small numbers of electrified versions as a test. There was a mention of a small # of Leafs being used as taxis (see http://www.plugincars.com/nissan-leaf-taxis-ready-mean-streets-new-york-107133.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false. I recall that two Leafs each will share a taxi medallion.

Considering they went with ICE, I was very disappointed that the NV200 isn't a hybrid as city traffic is perfect for hybrids. You've got tons of braking, low speed driving, idling, creeping along, etc. Why throw away all the braking energy as heat and brake dust? Why idle uselessly?

There are currently quite a few hybrid taxis running around in NYC, such as Escape Hybrids. I recall seeing some Camry Hybrids and Altima Hybrids too.

edit: http://www.taxioftomorrow.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; apparently is the official site. http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/releases/a16cfe14-abdc-4b30-a13d-67d2598acae1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; from May 2011 says

As part of the program, Nissan also will work with the City and taxi owners on a pilot program to study the use of zero-emission, electric vehicles as taxis. Nissan will provide up to six 100-percent electric Nissan LEAFs to taxi owners for testing in 2012 as well as the charging stations to support their use.

 

[kubel]

Most retired police cars go into taxi service to drive about 4x as many miles as the police put on them. Where are all the used police cars going to go if they switch to buying brand new taxi vans?

 

[cwerdna]

Most retired police cars go into taxi service to drive about 4x as many miles as the police put on them. Where are all the used police cars going to go if they switch to buying brand new taxi vans?

I guess it depends on where.

Now that I look back at my post at http://priuschat.com/threads/wow-the-altima-hybrid-now-has-5000-of-incentives-in-ca.80918/page-2#post-1218466" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, there were actually a lot of Altima Hybrids as taxis in NYC and a tiny # of them used as taxis in Boston. I recall seeing Camry Hybrids used as taxis in both. I doubt any of them were former police cars.

In SF, I've seen quite a few Prius taxis and IIRC, some HyCams and some FEH's. I've seen some Prius taxis in San Jose and spoke to one taxi driver awhile ago. I recall seeing a lineup of Prius taxis near Vancouver BC.

 

[cwerdna]

The ICE NV200 taxi has entered production in... drumroll.... Mexico.

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/08/26/nissan-nv200-taxi-of-tomorrow-production/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[RegGuheert]

The ICE NV200 taxi has entered production in... drumroll.... Mexico.

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/08/26/nissan-nv200-taxi-of-tomorrow-production/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

From the link:

In order to accommodate taxicab production on its NV200 assembly line, Nissan modified the production process to include the installation of taxi-specific features like the panoramic sunroof, antimicrobial upholstery, plenty of lighting and grab handles aplenty. The paint shop had to also add that special shade of yellow, all so that the taxis could roll off the line ready to pick up their first fare in Manhattan.

A couple of thoughts about the modifications mentioned:

- Does anyone think a "panoramic sunroof" might be an unwelcome feature for some fares? Hopefully it can be closed.
- I see no mention of upgraded brakes, shocks, suspension or transmission. Is this vehicle really ready for long-term taxi service replacing the Checkers of old and more recently Crown Vics without any upgraded mechanicals? Maybe it is.

I sure hope this play works out well for both Nissan and NYC. Frankly, I think both are taking a big risk here.

 

[RonDawg]

Yeah I don't know why a "panoramic sunroof" is necessary for taxi service, especially in NYC.

Most retired police cars go into taxi service to drive about 4x as many miles as the police put on them. Where are all the used police cars going to go if they switch to buying brand new taxi vans?

I don't believe that is allowed in NYC. I believe their taxis have to be purchased new and meet certain specs in order to get the "medallion" (permit) to operate. I believe it's the same way in the City and County of San Francisco.

 

[smkettner]

The ICE NV200 taxi has entered production in... drumroll.... Mexico.

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/08/26/nissan-nv200-taxi-of-tomorrow-production/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Built with non-union paying employees? :shock:

 

[cwerdna]

Built with non-union paying employees? :shock:

In the US, none of the Japanese "transplant" automakers building cars in the US (e.g. Nissan, Toyota, Subaru, etc.) are unionized. I believe that's also true of the Germans and Koreans (e.g. BMW, Hyundai, Kia, etc.) Former NUMMI (joint venture between GM and Toyota) was the only UAW plant Toyota had.

In Japan, AFAIK, many (most? all?) cars there are built in unionized shops (http://www.jaw.or.jp/e/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false.

I've changed the title to make this thread more general...

 

[TonyWilliams]

Former NUMMI (joint venture between GM and Toyota) was the only UAW plant Toyota had.

I think you'll find the Woodstock, Ontario assembly plant of the Toyota Rav4, et al, is UAW.

 

[cwerdna]

^^^
Whoops... I meant to mean Toyota's plants in the US, not North America.

Those Canadian plants are CAW.

I hadn't realized Japanese autoworkers were (typically?) unionized until I took a a tour of Toyota Tsutsumi (via http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/about_toyota/facility/toyota_kaikan/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false and the union was mentioned during the tour. I also recall the guide mentioning that once a worker becomes part of management, they can no longer be part of the union.

 

[ASP]

I just want more information on the electric one!

 

[RonDawg]

Built with non-union paying employees? :shock:

In the US, none of the Japanese "transplant" automakers building cars in the US (e.g. Nissan, Toyota, Subaru, etc.) are unionized. I believe that's also true of the Germans and Koreans (e.g. BMW, Hyundai, Kia, etc.)

Former NUMMI (joint venture between GM and Toyota) was the only UAW plant Toyota had.

Yeah, the UAW has been quite unsuccessful in unionizing employees in car factories other than those of the Big 3 here in the US. In the 1980s they tried to mobilize workers at Honda's Marysville OH, and later Nissan's Smyrna TN, plants but failed to do so, and continue to fail to do so. Here's an interesting article about the UAW's unsuccessful attempt to organize at Honda:

http://www.freep.com/article/20121028/BUSINESS01/310280131/UAW-saw-an-opening-with-Honda-s-arrival" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The UAW being at NUMMI was likely due to it being a legacy of the GM days, before they took on Toyota as a "roomie", and Toyota inherited them after GM moved out.

EDIT: UAW now in talks with VW/Chattanooga: http://www.freep.com/article/20130326/BUSINESS01/303260017/UAW-bid-gets-a-boost-at-VW-plant-in-Chattanooga" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[NYLEAF]

I saw one of these vans driving in Yonkers, NY (Westchester County) a few days ago. It was clearly labeled as "Demonstration Vehicle #5" and "NOT FOR HIRE". I took a photo but it's really poor quality because I was driving and it was 11pm. I found it weird that they had one of these vehicles outside of NYC limits. For anyone local, I was on Ridge Hill Blvd getting onto I-87 (NYS Thruway) South.