Noted Quebec investor Alexandre Taillefer is launching an all-electric fleet of taxis in Montreal.
Fifty electric cabs will roll onto the streets next Thursday, Nov. 26, and will include Teslas, Nissan Leafs, Kia Souls and cars manufactured by Chinese company BYD.
Taillefer acquired Montreal's largest taxi company, Taxi Hochelaga, earlier this year and he has given the all-electric division a new name: Teo Taxi.
All cars in the all-electric fleet are getting a white and green paint job in order to make them stand out.
"We're going to come get you. You're going to live a fantastic experience," said Taillefer.
"Inside there is wifi, a bottle of water, chocolate, and the drivers will be dressed all the same. And we're going to provide Montrealers with what I believe is a unique experience."
Last month Taillefer said the cars and taxi permits would be owned by the parent company, and that drivers would work for a salary plus tips.
Now the company says it has recevied permission to rent taxi permits from the municipal agency that oversees taxis, and that Teo Taxi is considered an 18-month pilot project.
The all-electric fleet will be charged by another division of Taillefer's business empire. Taxelco has about a dozen quick-charging electric stations that will be dedicated to the Teo Taxi fleet.
Taillefer is a senior partner at XPND Capital and this week Quebec's Caisse de Depot invested $15 million in XPND Croissance -- a subdivision that focuses on transportation, media, and innovation.
