Better Place continues baby-stepping its way to battery-swapping domination with the launch of its 90-day trial of a trio of taxis in Tokyo. The test, implemented in conjunction with taxi firm Nihon Kotsu, kicked off with ribbon cutting and a demonstration of some converted Qashqai having their power packs replaced in the latest iteration of BP's battery switcher. Unlike the previous version shown in Yokohama last year, this one has integrated charging with "optimal thermal management" and storage for 12 packs. Incidentally, the cells within the packs are not from Nissan, as one might expect, but from A123 Systems instead.The taxis will be available from 8 AM till 2 AM around the Roppongi district and, if you are really curious about how the system works, there is a visitors' center on-site as well. Can't swing a trip to Tokyo? Hit the jump for video showing off the system following the official press release.
Read more at : http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/27/better-places-battery-swapping-electric-taxi-test-takes-off-in
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