Think City, 1 Year of Ecotaxiing in Trondheim

Norwegian carmaker Think announced today two of its vehicles have been used as electrical taxis in Trondheim for one year now, proving that EVs can be a viable choice for urban public transportation. Of course, the past year was not without challenges.

"I am often asked by fellow business people in the city about my eco taxi, they especially want to know how I deal with only having two seats in my taxi and the fact that I re-charge instead of re-fuel," Audun Asphiell, owner of the vehicles says.

"The answer is simple: about 60-70% of the rides at daytime during the week are with only one passenger. Our taxi central operator asks everyone who calls for a ride how many passengers are going."

"When there is only one passenger we are competing for the rides. During night time at the weekends the situation is obviously different, but the request for taxis at this time is so big anyway that there is still plenty for us to do.”

Another upside of using an EV as a taxi is the advertising possibilities it opens. Being not such a common sight, the Thinks are poised to turn heads, on of the main attributes of a good advertising...

“People find it very interesting as most people have never driven an EV before. We often have to spend the first five minutes of the ride to explain the basics about the car. People think it’s a great project and say that they admire us for taking an action towards reducing emissions. Many of our passengers want to get an EV for themselves after driving with us,” Asphiell concludes.

These days, Think is storming Copenhagen and the United Nations Climate Change Conference's (COP15), where it sent 15 Think City cars used as demonstration vehicles at the Bella Centeret conference centre.