Do big cities use hybrid taxis?

Question

NYC uses large crown vics, which looks like they burn a lot MPG, but most of the time they're stuck in traffic (wasting fuel)

A hybrid shuts down when it's parked, uses wasted kinetic energy to charge batteries, and at slow speeds, uses an electric motor.

It would be a great investment. Cities would be quieter, and reduce smog (and also gas). Are any cities doing this?

Answer 1

San Francisco does.

Answer 2

Personally I think they should, and I have a friend of mine went in one in the US.

However, Taxis are privately owned and i guess the owners don't want to have to fork out the extra 10-15 Gs for one.

but on the other hand, doubling or tripling their milage out of gas tank...wouldn't they recover that money pretty quick...

Our family worked out we'd recover that moeny in less than 2years...a taxi driver who drives all day- wouldnt they recover that faster....

Personally I think legislation should be made to make them hybrids, but then the govt would have to admit that global warming is actually happening...

However, here in Sydney Aus, our postie vans are being trialled as hybrids- hope they keep it that way.....

Answer 3

Hybrid taxis are being used in San Francisco and Vancouver Canada. New York City recently passed legislation that would allow th use of Hybrids. There are other links on the use of hybrid taxis below.

The Prius, which seats five, and the Ford Escape, also seats 5, are the two models being used for taxis according to the sources I found.

Answer 4

i live in new york and i have not seen any

Answer 5

as far as i know, there is no city that owns cabs.

they're all private.

and while they'd like the mileage, the overall cost doesn't justify them.

i suppose cities could offer a discount on the permit.

but would the loss of revenue be worth it?

look in Berkeley Calif.

if it flies anywhere, it'll be Berkeley.

there is another problem -- capacity.

a honda insite gets good mileage.

but it only has 2 seats.

hybrids are getting bigger.

and the mileage is going down.

Answer 6

Considering how many New Yorkers walk or use mass transit this is the one thing that would cut back on their pollution.

Answer 7

Menino introduces hybrid taxis

Officials say taxis will not burden taxpayers

Casey McNulty

Issue date: 10/2/06 Section: News

Last month, Mayor Thomas Menino and officials from Boston CleanAir Cabs announced the launch of Boston's first hybrid taxicab in a project officials say will have little cost for taxpayers.

The taxi, which boasts lower tailpipe emissions and fuel costs, is being used by the Boston Cab Company

Boston CleanAir Cabs -- a partnership of groups who worked to reduce air pollution in Boston over the last two years -- joined forces with Menino to gradually replace city cabs with hybrid vehicles.

Boston Cab Company purchased the hybrid vehicle for approximately $25,000 and is scheduled to purchase nine more, each at more than three times the price of the Crown Victoria cars the company usually purchases at auctions, said John Moore, co-founder of Boston CleanAir Cabs.

But the mayor does not intend to replace all of the taxis with hybrid cars just yet.

"We'd like to see the project progress, but we aren't pushing any technology," said Laura Bickel, Boston's Transportation and Air Quality specialist. "We are open to other technologies as well."

Because hybrid cars are a relatively new technology, it is uncertain how long they last, Bickel said. In cities including New York and San Francisco, they are still running without problems after two years.

Taxpayers do not fund the new hybrid taxis and developing environmental programs.

According to Bickel, the hybrid taxis are a part of a voluntary and incentive-based program. Drivers save about half of their gas money, and if companies use the hybrids, Boston Hackney Service -- which is responsible for cab licensing -- will give the taxis another year of service as long as they pass inspection.

Two hybrid models -- Toyota Camry and Ford Escape -- and one Compressed Natural Gas Ford Crown Victoria have been approved by the Boston Police Department for use in Boston. A green stripe on the side of a taxi indicates that the vehicle is a hybrid cab, according to the mayor's press release.

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