THE pioneering Cornwall taxi company that inspired hundreds of electric taxi sales nationwide has added the new Nissan LEAF to its fleet.
St Austell based C&C Taxis took what it called a step into the unknown when it bought its first Nissan LEAF — an original 24kWh model — and added it to its fleet of diesel cabs back in 2013.
But the move paid off big time, with that original car, affectionately dubbed ‘Wizzy’, going on to clock up 174,000 all-electric, zero emission miles and the company adding 12 more LEAFs and an 100% electric Nissan e-NV200 Combi vehicles over the following few years.
The move helped to upgrade and expand the company’s fleet and improve its infrastructure. And word of the success spread, with scores of other taxi operators across the UK following suit, putting hundreds of pure EV taxis on the roads and helping to improve air quality in their own communities.
Unsurprisingly, company directors Mark Richards and Michelle Williams were at the front of the queue when the new LEAF, which now offers and improved range of up to 168 miles*, was launched earlier this year.
They have now taken delivery of three new 40kWh LEAFs from local Nissan dealer, West End Motors in Bodmin. The vehicles have all been liveried by Cornwall Signs.
Mark Richards said: “It’s no exaggeration to say that the Nissan LEAF helped us change our business beyond all recognition and to grow significantly.
“We live and work in a beautiful part of the world and we wanted to do our bit to help care for it and that’s been the major driver behind our adoption of electric vehicles.
“But the fact the cars are so cheap to run and maintain has also played a huge factor in our recent success, allowing us to take the money we have saved on fuel and invest it to improve both the size and quality of our fleet.”
Anthony Handley, a driver for C&C Taxis, added: “For most of my three years as a taxi driver I’ve predominantly driven the LEAF and e-NV200 and have barely been behind the wheel of a diesel car.
“I absolutely love the driving experience and performance of the LEAF – it’s got all the features you’d look for in a new car and is a really comfortable and relaxing car to work in.
“The new model’s absolutely fantastic – it looks much sportier and the extra range make a big difference.”
