The largest private hire cab company in Scotland has teamed up with Nissan as it prepares to introduce electric vehicles to its fleet for the first time.
GlasGO Cabs has placed an order for hundreds of all-electric Nissan LEAFs to be delivered over the next three years. And the company’s electrification ambitions will start in earnest later this autumn when the first 11 cars are due to arrive.
The agreement represents a huge vote of confidence both in Nissan, as a manufacturer very much in the vanguard of electric motoring, and in the award-winning LEAF passenger car itself, of which more than half a million examples have been sold worldwide.
Clever technology
Park’s Motor Group has also played a key role in equipping GlasGO Cabs with their zero-tailpipe-emission vehicles. With Nissan dealerships in Ayr, East Kilbride and Irvine, the respected dealer group has a long-standing working relationship with the owners and managers of the company.
GlasGO Cabs have chosen to obtain 360 e+ N-Connecta trim-level LEAFs. Equipped with a 62kWh battery, each car can travel 239 miles on a single charge (WLTP combined) – easily enough for typical daily duties.
Bristling with clever technology and a host of creature comforts, e+ N-Connecta models boast a power output of 217PS (214bhp); 340Nm of torque; and are capable of a 0-62mph acceleration time of just 6.9 seconds.
The good-looking hatchbacks, which will replace petrol and diesel-engined cars from other manufacturers, are sure to prove popular with drivers and passengers alike. And they will help improve air quality in Glasgow, where there have been worrying levels of pollution in recent years.
GlasGO Cabs is a company that’s going from strength to strength. It’s capable of meeting a wide range of personal transport requirements from weddings and airport runs to fulfilling contracts with public sector organisations and Glasgow area businesses. The firm was created earlier this year by the merger of Hampden Cars and Glasgow Private Hire.
Director Steven Malcolm said: ‘‘We have been thinking for some time about electrifying part or all of our fleet and are delighted to have achieved this in association with Nissan and Park’s Motor Group.
‘‘We are serious about doing our bit to reduce air pollution and protect the environment. The replacement of hundreds of our petrol and diesel models with all-electric Nissan LEAFs will have a meaningful impact on Glasgow’s air quality – and we’re delighted about that.
‘‘We’re sure our many customers will appreciate the efforts we are making in this area, too. We all have a duty to look after the environment for future generations and we take our responsibilities in this area very seriously. We couldn’t have made a better choice than go for the Nissan LEAF.’’
A great choice
Sandy Bryce, Park’s Motor Group Sales Director, said: ‘‘We are delighted to have played a role in helping GlasGO Cabs embrace electrification. As the first mass-market EV, LEAF is a great choice for any organisation looking to cut their emissions.
‘‘The cars will be a great fit for the GlasGO Cabs fleet – and we’re pleased to say we have been working with the team at the company for many years. It’s a relationship that continues to go from strength to strength.’’
Karen Reid, Corporate Sales Manager for Fleet Sales at Nissan Motor (GB) Ltd., said: ‘‘We are enormously proud of our partnership with GlasGO Cabs and fully support their efforts to decarbonise.
“We enjoy working with proactive organisations who are leading in this space and are very grateful to the directors for choosing our brand. We send them every good wish and look forward to working together in future as they continue to introduce electric vehicles to their fleet.”