Motor 16 - The future taxi

This will be the future taxi: electric, spacious and without the need to buy it

The Taxi world could star in a spectacular advance if the original and efficient project presented by ETIOCA holding, an international company based in Gibraltar, finally gets through. This firm has visited Barcelona to publicize its new electric vehicle.

The Miner functional prototype, designed and manufactured in Turin, visited the El Prat international airport car park last weekend to present its project to taxi professionals. This would add to other existing electric taxi offers.
It will not be necessary to buy the taxi
Etioca Taxi Miner, the first project of the ETIOCA ecosystem, comes after five years of analyzing the needs of the taxi sector and urban mobility trends. It is a vehicle designed for taxi drivers and transferred for their use, without the need for advance payments, and with daily electrical charging (battery exchange), daily vehicle washing, insurance, and ordinary and extraordinary maintenance.

ETIOCA Miner is aimed at a new generation of business-taxi drivers who are no longer obliged to buy a car, but can have it for their use.
During the meetings with the taxi drivers, many fundamental points of analysis arose, such as the safety of drivers and passengers, the possibility of recharging by exchanging batteries or autonomy (350 kilometers).
Rates based on usage
The taxi drivers also met with the ETIOCA board of directors to discuss the economic aspects and the rates included in the different use packages, among which is the rate of 0.36 cents per kilometer for the use of the vehicle transferred in use, up to more extensive packages that include additional services, such as battery change, daily vehicle washing, insurance, maintenance and replacement of the vehicle in case of breakdown. In the coming weeks, ETIOCA will continue in Spain to meet with taxi drivers from Valencia, Madrid, Marbella and, for the second time, Barcelona. They will also hold meetings with local and government authorities, last-mile delivery drivers, police forces, defense forces and even representatives of delivery and postal services.

By the end of 2024, the first 10,000 ETIOCA taxis will be in circulation. The annual production in 2025 will be 45,000 units, and will reach 100,000 units per year in 2027, with an initial investment of 400 million dollars to reach 1,200 million in the next 3 years.
Large reserve portfolio
A total of 90,000 pre-reservations are currently under negotiation in Italy, Spain, Israel, Latvia, and to speed up production times, an agreement with an Italian strategic partner for the use of a production plant is in an advanced stage of negotiation.
Miner promotes sustainable mobility, responding to the needs of citizens and municipal administrations, encouraging the use of comfortable means of transport and preventing citizens from using their own car for short and medium-distance journeys. All this, with the consent of a new generation of taxi drivers who will no longer buy the vehicle, but will receive it ready for use and will only pay for the actual mileage traveled.
Seven modular seats
The driver’s position is isolated from the rest of the taxi, is fully equipped and guarantees high levels of safety and protection. This vehicle is easily accessible, has no barriers and has seven modular seats for passengers, as well as one for people with reduced mobility, who can access the interior without help, using an automatic lifting platform. In addition, the Miner allows you to comfortably transport large leisure objects such as bicycles, skis and snowboards.

It moves with an electric motor that delivers a power of 120 kW (163 CV) and reaches a maximum speed limited to 150 km/h. It is 4.95 meters long, 1.95 meters wide and 2.01 meters high, with a 3.5-meter wheelbase and two-wheel drive.
The weight of the vehicle is close to two tons and, having a low center of gravity, it boasts comfortable driving and safe behavior on the road. 350 kilometers of autonomy
The vehicle is recharged thanks to the quick exchange of batteries at specific stations. The batteries, with a capacity of 100 KWh, guarantee a range of up to 350 kilometers (in WLTP urban cycle). Several configurations are offered for the batteries, with which ETIOCA wants to guide its customers towards the electrical transition without fear of anxiety due to lack of charge. On board there are many other tools, including digital screens for managing services, a payment terminal, an on-board store, a minibar, chargers for all types of smartphones, and a real-time map.
Based on the latest knowledge about the pandemic, each vehicle will be automatically disinfected when all passengers have left the interior, using a mixed system of ultraviolet light and disinfectant spray. In addition to changing the batteries, the driver can also wash the vehicle daily at specific stations.