It is hard to imagine that one of the most widespread means of transport in the world is not destined to change, to evolve towards a more sustainable model of mobility. The electric taxi is, in short, one of the most topical issues, on which the efforts of local authorities and transport companies are increasingly focused. So let us take a look at what is already happening and what could happen in the next decade.

One example of those already looking beyond the "simple" electrification of the taxi service is a study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where a team of scientists examined the environmental benefits that could be achieved if taxis were not only electric but also "autonomous" — that is, driverless. The study compared vehicles with internal combustion engines, electric motors, hybrid powertrains and hydrogen fuel cells; for each type, greenhouse gas emissions per mile travelled were calculated.

New York

What emerges (using a modified electric Nissan Leaf as the basis for the simulation) is that a self-driving electric taxi would contribute to a reduction of up to 94% in greenhouse gas emissions, not to mention the reduction in accidents, which are often caused by human error. Meanwhile, staying on the other side of the Atlantic, in New York mayor Michael Bloomberg announced back in 2013 that a third of the Big Apple's taxis would be electric by 2020.

Rome

But how are things looking in Italy? In Rome, last September Nissan and URI (Unione Radiotaxi d'Italia) presented the project providing for the gradual introduction of electric taxis in the capital, currently limited to two electric Leafs. Complicating the project, unsurprisingly, is the small number of charging points, along with the fact that not all taxi drivers have their own garage in which to charge their vehicle. Also last September, in Florence mayor Dario Nardella took a decisive step towards the electrification of the taxi service: a tender for 70 new "green" licences.

London

And the rest of Europe? In London, for instance, the drive to cut pollution is pushing more and more people to use the Metrocab, the new generation of electrically powered taxi. But the title of Europe's most virtuous city, with the highest number of electric taxis, goes to Amsterdam, where around 400 public hire vehicles are in circulation. And the trend is continuously rising: since the beginning of the year, around 100 electric taxis have been delivered across Europe, virtually all of them badged Nissan, the world's leading manufacturer in electric car sales.

Eastern Europe

Eastern Europe, too, appears increasingly receptive to the subject of electric vehicles. But which are the most virtuous countries in the ranking by number of electric taxis? According to a Nissan survey, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom top the rankings. They are followed by Estonia, Hungary and Germany. The issue of limited range remains the biggest deterrent, even though the latest version of the Nissan Leaf has largely resolved the problem, extending its range to 250 km.

Milan

And Milan? Strangely, in one of Italy's cities with the highest "sustainability rate", the electric taxi phenomenon is struggling to take off, even as electric car sharing is working well. But something is stirring, and the city will soon be talking a great deal about electric mobility. Nissan is in fact launching a project (still top secret) on electric mobility — an experience billed as somewhere between the real and the virtual and "which will allow Milanese residents to discover the advantages, the technologies and the benefits of electric mobility in a unique and innovative way," Nissan says. When? Very soon, it seems — we will keep you updated.