Nissan’s electric vehicles have now clocked up in excess of three million miles as taxis in the UK.

There are currently more than 140 Nissan EV taxis in operation across Britain and the all-electric Leaf hatchbacks and e-NV200 Combi models passed the mileage figure this month

Six of the largest and longest-established Nissan taxi fleets the UK – Phoenix Taxis in Blyth, Northumberland, C&C Taxis in Cornwall, Premier Cabs in Blackpool, 203020 Electric in Dundee, eConnect Cars in London and eCorporate Travel in Edinburgh – have surpassed the three million miles between them.

With many smaller fleets and independent operators also operating across the country, the true figure is likely to be significantly higher.

Highlights include:

• 203020 Electric in Dundee surpassed one million pure EV taxi miles in less than one year with its fleet of 30 Leafs
• At least four Leaf taxis have passed the 100,000-mile mark with more than 30 having covered over 30,000 miles
• The first Leaf put into service by C&C Taxis in Cornwall passed 100,000 miles without losing a single bar of battery life and on its first set of brake pads.
• The average Nissan EV taxi is rapid charged (a process taking as little as 30 minutes from zero to 80%) hundreds of times a year with minimal degradation.
• Many Nissan EV taxi drivers are taking home thousands of pounds extra per year as a result of fuel savings. At 203020 Electric, in Dundee, for example, drivers are between £120 and £130 a week better off.

Karl Anders, national EV manager at Nissan Motor (GB), said: “There can now be absolutely no doubt that the Nissan LEAF and e-NV200 make brilliant taxis.

“Operators across the UK have put them to the ultimate test – running them 24-7 and rapid charging them time and time again to keep them on the road and making money.

“As a result, we’ve seen more and more taxi operators seriously looking into electric vehicles as their existing diesel and petrol vehicles come up for replacement.

“This is a trend we expect to continue and accelerate as the charging infrastructure across the country continues to expand.”