First electric taxi starts service in Japan, in Kashiwazaki, Niigata (新潟県柏崎市)

From here in Japanese on July 24th, which is also the date that the taxi went into service for the first time. The place where it went into service is a city called Kashiwazaki in Niigata Prefecture, which is northwest of Tokyo. The car is a Mitsubishi i MiEV, costs 4.6 million yen ($48,500 USD) and cost starts at 660 yen ($7) for customers to ride it, same as other small taxis.

This article says that electric taxi service will start in Ehime Prefecture as well in August, which is located on the island of Shikoku. Prices are cheaper there, starting at 550 yen.